DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates has banned the use of children under 16 as jockeys in camel racing, a popular sport in the Gulf countries. The move follows widespread criticism of the abuse of children, mainly from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, who are kidnapped and exploited for the entertainment of spectators. As of April 16, it will be illegal for jockeys under the age of 16 and weighing less than 45 kilogrammes to race, the official WAM news agency reports.

The decision was announced by the State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hamdan Bin Zayed Al-Nayhan. He said that under the new law, camel jockeys should not weigh less than 45kg and their age should not be less than 16 years.

Since 1993, the UAE has officially banned the use of children under 15 however abuses are widespread and those breaking the law have not been brought to account.

The rulers of the Gulf states are attempting to clean up the sport in the face of growing protests over the trafficking of young children from the Indian subcontinent as jockeys. They are often kept in harsh conditions in camps, under-fed by employers to keep them light and they also risk being thrown off and trampled on as well as longer term orthopaedic damage. Some children as young as four have been involved.—By arrangement with AKI/Italy.