Camel Racing with Robot Jockeys
The traditional sport of camel racing underwent a fascinating modernization in Dubai in 2004: instead of human jockeys, remote-controlled robots steer the camels. The reason for this change: allegations of human rights violations, as children were abused as jockeys in many Gulf states in the past.
Accordingly, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (including Dubai) banned the use of human jockeys to combat child labor. The UAE even took the lead as the first country with the ban. Despite the robotization, camel racing remains a lucrative industry: millions of dirhams are transformed into betting odds here – but now without human victims.
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