• Official document to regulate camel ownership and monitoring
• Centralized database to boost productivity and protect owners

Saudi Arabia has announced a plan to issue official passports for camels, in a move aimed at organizing and managing one of the kingdom’s most culturally and economically important assets.

The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture said in a statement this week that the initiative will help improve oversight of camel ownership and enhance “productivity and efficiency in the sector” by creating a centralized and reliable database.

According to a local broadcaster, the document will be used to regulate the sale, transport, and trade of camels, while also protecting owners’ rights and making it easier to prove ownership.

Saudi authorities estimate that the kingdom is home to around 2.2 million camels, based on government figures released in 2024.

Camels remain a key part of Saudi heritage — historically serving as the main means of transport and today representing symbols of heritage, status, and wealth.

In recent years, camels have become the focus of a profitable industry centered on breeding and competitions, especially at major annual festivals.

The growing commercial value has led authorities to tighten oversight, particularly after repeated scandals involving cosmetic manipulation of camels in beauty contests.

Regulators have banned practices such as injections and fillers used to enhance lips, noses, and humps, imposing fines and disqualification for violators.

Authorities confirmed that the passport system is part of broader efforts to modernize agricultural management while preserving traditional industries, using documentation, data collection, and traceability to manage practices that previously relied entirely on oral records.