THE camel it occupies a special place and a unique role in the lives of its citizens of Saudi Arabia as well as in the development of the cultural heritage of the Kingdom, which is why the country declared 2024 the “Year of the Camel”.

Tradition defines the camel as national animal of Saudi Arabia because of its contribution to the livelihood of its people and its imprint on the country’s cultural heritage in the fields of art, craft, literature and the lifestyle of the Kingdom’s citizens.

Inspired by the camel, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture will organize events, exhibitions, educational programs and activities in areas such as art, fashion, food production, culinary traditions and sustainability.

The Year of the Camel coincides with the declaration of 2024 as the International Year of the Camel by the United Nations, highlighting their importance in cultural heritage and the strong bond between humans and camels.

“Amid challenges facing the global community with climate change, food security and the threat to biodiversity security, the camel is emerging as a timeless symbol of resilience as it can travel up to 150 kilometers in the desert without water.

The camel represents her values patienceher persistence and her adaptability, while at the same time it is a faithful companion of man as it can acclimatize in a variety of environments. Camels have carved new paths and have historically been characterized as the ‘ships of the desert’, as they built bridges across barren regions, directly connecting people from different cultures,” the Ministry of Culture’s statement said.