The Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has announced plans to issue official passports for camels, a move aimed at better regulating and managing one of the kingdom’s most culturally and economically significant assets.
The initiative is expected to improve oversight of camel ownership, enhance productivity and efficiency in the sector, and create a centralised and reliable reference database.
The decision to issue passports to camels comes as the kingdom is home to around 2.2 million camels, according to government figures released in 2024.
Camels have been an integral part of Saudi society for centuries, serving as a primary means of transport and symbolising heritage, prestige, and wealth.
In recent years, the camel breeding and competition industry has grown significantly, with prize-winning animals selling for hundreds of thousands of dollars at annual festivals such as the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival.
The growing commercial value of camels has prompted authorities to tighten oversight, particularly after repeated scandals involving the cosmetic manipulation of camels entered into beauty contests.
Organisers have banned practices such as injections and fillers used to enhance lips, noses, and humps, with offenders facing fines and disqualification.
The passport system is part of a broader effort to modernise agricultural governance in Saudi Arabia, using documentation, data, and traceability to manage practices that once relied entirely on oral record and custom.
The initiative is expected to enhance the kingdom’s efforts to preserve traditional industries while promoting economic growth and development.
