A decision of the Council
The Council of Ministers, chaired by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, approved naming 2024 the Year of the Camel. The aim was to honour the camel's cultural and civilisational value, reinforce its presence at home and abroad, and support national efforts to develop the camel sector.
The year belongs to a series in which the Ministry of Culture dedicates each year to one element of Saudi heritage. Even the colours of camels carry names: herds are known as al-Majaheem, al-Maghateer, al-Shaqah, al-Safar and al-Sha'al.
From the desert to Paris
The year was carried by the ministry's programmes with its partners, by camel racing, and by the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival and the Crown Prince Camel Festival. Herds of camels also appear in the official Saudi passport.
In 2024 the ministry and the Camel Club took part in the Camel Parade in Paris, held to mark the United Nations' International Year of Camelids. It brought together participants from more than 30 countries and over 50 camels, with traditional performances and talks on camel heritage.