Camels from Saudi Arabia

The camels in my picture are dromedary camels.  The dromedary camel is a large even-toed ungulate (a hoofed mammal) with one hump on its back. Domesticated dromedary camels are found throughout the desert areas in North Africa and the Middle East.

These three camels were a gift from my sister when she had a posting in Saudi Arabia.  I had the opportunity to visit her in Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia. While there Ruth and I had a visit to a camel farm.

Camels, the national animal of Saudi Arabia, are native to the Arabian Peninsula. The camel population is estimated to be about 1.6 million within the Arabian Peninsula with about 53% of them in Saudi Arabia according to 2011 statistics. 

Camels provide food, shelter, work, entertainment, and companionship.  The camel has been and continues to be linked to Saudi life. Camels are beasts of burden. They are meant to carry things and that is why people call them ‘ships of the desert’.

Today, you don’t see camels in the cities in Saudi but you will see them if you are driving down smaller highways. Families will own them, along with goats and sheep.  Besides being used for physical labour, a camel’s wool can be woven into cloth, its milk can be drunk and once a camel dies, it can be used for its meat and leather.  The average Saudi camel is more like a family pet. 

More expensive camels are owned by the rich and famous and each year The King Abdulaziz Camel Festival is held in the desert northeast of Riyadh.  This bedouin event lures breeders from around the Arabian Gulf with prize money of up to $66 million. This 40-day festival includes a camel beauty contest as well as camel racing.  

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