Camels

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Saudi Arabia has announced plans to introduce official passports for millions of camels across the kingdom as part of efforts to improve oversight and management of its prized livestock.

The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture said the move would help raise standards in the sector and create a dependable national record, noting that the initiative would increase “productivity and efficiency in the sector and build a reliable reference database for camels.”

A social media post released by the ministry on Tuesday showed the proposed document, which appears as a green passport bearing the Saudi coat of arms and a golden image of a camel.

According to state-owned broadcaster Al Ekhbariya, the passport will “contribute to organizing sales and trading operations by regulating trade and transportation, providing official documentation, protecting the rights of owners, and facilitating proof of ownership.”

Government estimates in 2024 placed the camel population at about 2.2 million, underscoring the importance of the animals, which have served as transport, symbols of status and key drivers of a lucrative breeding industry in the kingdom for centuries.