Rider Portrait: Martin and Mseihan
Martin is a bit of a pioneer himself, and one of the few people who had the confidence to invest in a camel and take care of it. He became a big part of our community, guiding other riders and volunteering at events and sharing the love and care for camels. His kindness and cheerful nature never fail to bring a smile to our faces.
The bond between him and his camel is truly special, and their journey together is admirable. We had the opportunity to ask him a few questions, which he answered in an interview.
When did you join the school and what are some of the key memories with camels that you cherish? (ADCRC camels or others)
“I arrived in Dubai in October 2022, joining King’s College Hospital as a Consultant Urological Surgeon. This was my first experience in the Middle East, and it took me six months to discover the ADCRC—thanks to a CNN news clip. Before that, I had come close several times, often stopping in Al Lisaili to watch the race camels being exercised. The atmosphere around the racing camels reminded me of the horse racing and hunting communities back in England—familiar yet distinctly different.
Some of the key memories I cherish are:
- Before finding ADCRC: I once spotted a local man, about my age, resting with his camel near Fossil Rock. They appeared to be on a journey, and I felt a deep connection, wanting to experience a part of what he had.
- Swimming with camels: It’s hard to put into words—there’s something surreal about the experience. If you haven’t tried it, I’d highly recommend it.
- My first time ‘in control’ of a camel: A moment of triumph when Tariq let me take the reins.
- Solo camping in the desert: Waking up to the soothing sound of camels ruminating nearby.
- Trips to Oman: Spending time with camels, deepening my connection with these amazing animals.
- The ongoing learning process: Every day with camels teaches me something new—truly, every day is a school day.”
What inspired you to seek out camels as your hobby?
My home in the UK is in Dartmoor, a green, hilly, and often wet area of natural beauty. It shares some similarities with the desert—just without the sand! I’ve spent years riding horses, running, hiking, and camping there. My wife, a veterinarian, and I also have horses, sheep, tortoises, and dogs. In addition, I’ve served as a racecourse doctor for local semi-professional horse races and am part of the Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team. Simply put, I’ve always loved being outdoors.
Back in school, I learned the basics about camels, and I’ve been fascinated ever since. Their physiology, temperament, and resilience are truly remarkable and piqued my curiosity from a young age.
The ADCRC’s logo, with two camel heads facing in opposite directions, reminds me of Janus, the Roman god with two faces—symbolizing the future, the past, and transitions. I feel that this perfectly represents what Linda and Obaid are achieving at the center: shaping the future with a deep respect for tradition, using camels as their guiding force.
Ultimately, I’m drawn to camels because of their unique, indomitable nature. They are individualistic, resilient, and truly one-of-a-kind.
How did your journey shape up in reality vs. what you initially expected? Highlights? Low points?
It’s been an incredible journey—one I feel very privileged to be part of. The pace has been perfectly suited to my abilities and evolving skills, which is exactly what I had hoped for.
Highlights:
- Solo camping (after plenty of group trips). There’s something magical about waking up to the sounds of camels in the morning. They can be quite noisy, but there’s a comforting feeling in knowing they haven’t wandered off during the night. So far, I haven’t had to make the embarrassing call to Linda asking if her camels ended up back home!
- The acceptance I’ve received from the Al Lisaili community despite my less-than-perfect Arabic.
- The first time a camel approached me unasked (Hero, while camping) with no food involved—just a genuine connection.
Low points (with valuable lessons):
- Getting ‘spat on’—which I learned is actually camel vomit, not spit! It’s a bit smelly but not as bad as I’ve experienced in my 30+ years in healthcare. It taught me to better read a camel’s body language and recognize the signs of anxiety before things escalate. Now, I know how to de-escalate situations before they reach the ‘vomit stage.’
You recently purchased your own camel. Why? How? And what are your plans for the two of you? What is his name?
A great question—why? It just felt like the right time. I’m proud to be the first ‘liveried’ camel owner at the Center.
Let me introduce you to mSheihan (the ‘m’ is silent). He’s originally from the Omani desert and doesn’t speak much English, which has encouraged me to improve my Arabic. Our mutual understanding is growing, and he even features prominently in my Emirati lessons! He’s around 5-6 years old with a nice, fast walk—when he’s in the mood, which is about 50% of the time.
Advantages of owning mSheihan:
- His daily care is handled by the Center’s team, who treat him as one of their own.
- No more disappointment from fully booked lessons.
- I have much more flexibility to take him out, which suits my irregular schedule.
- I can still attend riding classes and other events, keeping us both engaged.
- It gives me a stronger sense of commitment to the UAE, the Center, and Linda and Obaid’s goals.
- I’m learning about camel husbandry—from food prep to poo picking!
- The Center’s team provides valuable oversight, preventing me from making too many mistakes.
Plans for us:
- Building a strong relationship and getting to know each other better.
- Exploring local desert routes and camping together.
- Bringing little Uli along as a future partner in crime.
- Promoting responsible camel ownership.
- Who knows—maybe we’ll even see a ‘take your camel to work’ day!
A key learning, piece of advice, something to share with the community
You don’t need prior experience in animal ownership to own a camel.
Sometimes, it’s about taking a calculated risk—a leap of faith, if you will. Things will never be perfect from the start, but they evolve over time, and you have the power to influence that evolution.
English marriage vows say, “for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.” While I don’t expect mSheihan to hold up his end of the bargain, I’m committed to doing my best to keep mine. This means acknowledging that life can be unpredictable. If or when the time comes for me to leave, I have peace of mind knowing that mSheihan will be in safe hands at the Center.
English 
Arabic 
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Martin,It is fantastic that you own your own camels, and Insh’Allah Baby Ulli too, he is special too in our hearts and I am 100% sure, he will be a happy mate to MSheihan. All whst you said I have experienced too. The love, the friendship with your own camels, is immensely special. It will grow and grow. The trust will be 100 %. love to the 3 of you , Layla
Loved it!
Magic interview…. You forgot to tell that you ride standing, as I have seen personally.
I believe you are deeply inside this magnificent face of UAE.