Why Saudi Arabia Decided to Issue Passports to Millions of Camels?

Darwin, 08 February:

Saudi Arabia has announced that it will issue passports for millions of camels in the country. According to officials, this initiative will help ensure better management of these valuable animals.

Saudi authorities say the move will make the camel-rearing sector more efficient and create a reliable database containing information about the camels’ identity and ownership.

A video shared on social media by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture also showed images of the document. It features a green-colored passport bearing the national emblem and a golden image of a camel.

According to government estimates in 2024, Saudi Arabia has around 2.2 million camels, which contribute more than two billion riyals to the country’s economy every year.

According to Arab News, there are around 35 million camels worldwide, of which about 17 million are in the Arab world. Among Arab countries, Somalia has the highest number of camels, followed by Sudan, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen.

The camel is part of Saudi Arabia’s national symbolism. Camel beauty contests and exhibitions are also organized in the country, where the best camels are awarded prizes.

On national days and special or historic occasions, official Saudi ceremonies seem incomplete without the presence of camels.

Saudi Arabia—and the Arab Gulf region as a whole—has a long history intertwined with camels.

History of Camels

Looking back at history, camels were the only means of transportation to the holy Islamic cities of Mecca and Medina in the early 20th century.

Pilgrims and caravans from Afghanistan, Central Asia, South Asia, and even the Far East traveled long distances to Saudi Arabia on the backs of camels.

The tradition of using camels for transport in the arid deserts of the Gulf region goes back several centuries.

One study suggests that camel carvings etched into rocks in Saudi Arabia may be among the oldest depictions of animals in the world.

When these carvings were first excavated in 2018, researchers initially believed they were about 2,000 years old, based on similarities with artifacts found in the ancient city of Petra in Jordan.

However, later research determined the age of these camel images to be between 7,000 and 8,000 years.

Determining the exact age of rock carvings is a major challenge for researchers, as unlike cave paintings, they usually lack organic material that can be tested. Finding such high-quality rock art in this region is also rare.

In September 2021, a team of international researchers published their findings in the journal Archaeological Science.

By analyzing patterns of erosion, various markings, and animal bones found in the area, they reassessed the age of the sculptures.

These monuments are so ancient that they may predate the Stone Age from 5,000 years ago or even be older than Egypt’s Giza pyramids, which are about 4,500 years old.

The monuments were created at a time when camels had not yet been domesticated. Later, however, camel herding became a crucial factor in the region’s economic development.

When these sculptures were created, Saudi Arabia did not resemble the desert landscape of today. Instead, vast green grasslands and lakes existed in place of present-day deserts.

The exact purpose of these camel sculptures remains unclear, but researchers believe they may have served as meeting places for nomadic tribes.

Camels in Arab Life and Culture

Badr bin Saud, a columnist for Riyadh newspaper and a Saudi historian, says camels have been an inseparable part of life on the Arabian Peninsula for centuries.

“Survival in this dry and extremely hot desert would have been impossible without camels,” he said.

This necessity shaped the role of camels in the Arab world’s economy, culture, and daily life.

According to Badr bin Saud, “In the pre-Islamic era, poets like Tarafa ibn al-Abd mentioned camels in their poetry.”

Dr. Badr bin Saud added, “Camels played such an important role in human life that they cannot be ignored. That is why even the Prophet of Islam (PBUH) had a camel named Qaswa.”

Although camels are no longer widely used for transportation, the affection and historical bond between Arab leaders and camels remains strong.

The founder of modern Saudi Arabia, King Abdulaziz, owned a herd of camels called Al-Rama‘at, and one of his special camels was named Al-Duwaila.

King Salman is also a great admirer of camels.

Badr bin Saud noted, “Once, the King requested Prince Saud bin Mohammed to send him his beautiful camel, Mankiyya. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also owns a beautiful and high-quality camel named Al-Sharaf.”

Camels are known as the “ships of the desert” because a single camel can carry loads of up to 400 kilograms.

Before the advent of cars and modern transport, the Quraysh leaders of Mecca traveled to Syria and Yemen on camel caravans.

Four hundred years ago, traders known as Iklaat conducted camel trade journeys to distant countries such as India, Turkey, Morocco, and Nigeria.

Even a few decades ago, camels were used in oil extraction and refining operations.

Camels in the Modern Economy

Camels are classified into different categories based on color, ranging from brown to reddish shades.

Camel experts say camels from Oman and Sudan are known for their speed, while camels from Saudi Arabia’s coastal regions are known for producing larger quantities of milk.

As Saudi Arabia makes massive investments to remain competitive in today’s technology-driven modern world, the country is also trying to integrate the historical value and cultural significance of camels into this progress.

Currently, a company named Sawani is investing in the camel milk and powdered milk industry and has already exported its products to 25 countries. The company also produces camel milk ice cream.

The brand Abel manufactures clothing, handmade bags, and shoes using camel hair and leather.

After crocodile leather, camel leather is considered one of the strongest and most durable types of leather.

Under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, the camel industry is expected to become one of the country’s major non-oil sources of income. Alongside revenue generation, it is deeply connected to history, religious heritage, and social traditions—making it both profitable and a source of pride for Saudis.

Source: BBC