Riyadh: Saudi Arabia has introduced that it’s going to subject passports to tens of millions of camels within the nation. The choice, officers defined, goals at enhancing the administration and care of those invaluable animals. They mentioned it’s going to assist improve the advantages of camel husbandry and create a dependable database for figuring out animals and monitoring their house owners.
The dominion’s ministry of atmosphere, water and agriculture unveiled the proposed doc by means of a video on social media. It’s a inexperienced passport embossed with the nationwide coat of arms and a golden camel seal.
In 2024, the federal government estimated that Saudi Arabia was dwelling to roughly 2.2 million camels. These animals contribute over 2 billion riyals yearly to the nationwide economic system. There are round 35 million camels throughout the globe, with about 17 million in Arab international locations. Amongst these, Somalia leads in numbers, adopted by Sudan, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
Camels have lengthy been a nationwide image in Saudi Arabia, forming the centerpiece of magnificence contests and exhibits that award the best animals. Nationwide celebrations and exhibitions additionally historically function camels. It exhibits their cultural and historic significance throughout the Arabian Peninsula.
Traditionally, camels have been indispensable for journey and survival within the area. Early Twentieth-century images present that the animals had been the first technique of transport to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. Pilgrims from Afghanistan, Central Asia, South Asia and even the Far East relied on camel caravans to achieve these cities after lengthy desert journeys.
Centuries-old traditions within the Gulf have used camels to cross arid landscapes. Archaeological research counsel that petroglyphs of camels in Saudi Arabia could also be among the many oldest depictions of animals on the earth.
Preliminary excavations in 2018 indicated these engravings had been round 2,000 years previous, although additional analysis later steered they could possibly be 7,000-8,000 years previous.
Establishing the exact age of those carvings has been difficult as a result of, in contrast to cave work, they lack natural materials. Such rock artwork is uncommon and offers insights into the area’s prehistoric economic system and early domestication practices.
These historic monuments predate even a number of the world’s oldest identified constructions, with some estimated to be older than Egypt’s Giza pyramids. The carvings doubtless originated in areas that had been as soon as greener, with lakes and grasslands, in contrast to at present’s desert panorama.
Students imagine the carvings could have served as assembly factors for nomadic tribes. Historians say that camels have been integral to life within the Arabian Peninsula for hundreds of years, offering survival in harsh desert situations. They’ve influenced the economic system, tradition and each day life and had been even referenced by pre-Islamic poets.
Camels additionally held significance in early Islamic historical past, with Prophet Muhammad possessing a camel named Qaswa. Though fashionable transportation has lowered their position in journey and cargo, camels proceed to carry cultural and historic significance amongst leaders and residents.
The founder of contemporary Saudi Arabia, King Abdul Aziz, maintained herds of camels, together with prized animals. Current-day leaders, together with King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, proceed to worth camels, with prized animals akin to Al-Sharaf forming a part of their non-public collections.
Usually referred to as the “ships of the desert”, the animal can carry a great deal of as much as 400 kilograms. Earlier than mechanised transport, commerce caravans relied on camels for lengthy journeys throughout the area, and retailers often called Uklaat traded it to international locations so far as India, Turkey, Morocco and Nigeria. Camels had been additionally utilized in oil extraction and refining till latest a long time.
The animal is classed by shade, starting from brown to reddish hues, and areas are identified for particular traits. Camels from Oman and Sudan are recognised for his or her pace, whereas Saudi coastal camels are prized for his or her milk. Trendy Saudi Arabia continues to take a position closely in expertise and business, nevertheless it additionally emphasises preserving the historic and cultural significance of camels.
Corporations akin to Sawani are investing in camel milk and powder manufacturing, exporting merchandise to 25 international locations and even producing ice cream from its milk. The model Abeel produces clothes, hand-made luggage and sneakers from camel wool and conceal, which is taken into account one of many strongest and most sturdy leathers after crocodile pores and skin.
Underneath Saudi Arabia’s Imaginative and prescient 2030, camel-based industries are anticipated to develop into a serious supply of revenue together with the oil sector. Past financial advantages, the animal is an emblem of historical past, spiritual custom and cultural delight, offering each revenue and a way of id for Saudi residents.