Year Of The camel

The year 2024 was named “The Year of The Camel” to celebrate the unique cultural value represented by camels in the lives of the inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula from the dawn of history up to the present day. Camels were a means of transportation across vast distances, navigating through the wilderness, and combating the isolation of long journeys. Their long companionship has inspired countless poems, tales, and proverbs, and their unwavering loyalty to humans has been a constant source of inspiration. Today, camels remain a living witness of authenticity and a core cultural component of Saudi identity.

Message from The Minister

Since the emergence of the Arabic culture until the present day, the camel enjoys a deep and dear stature among the inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula across history. It is the ship of the desert that our ancestors relied on in their comings and goings. The Almighty Allah has mentioned it in his glorious verses, which emphasizes its significant position in the hearts of earlier Arabs. Allah says (Qur'an 88:17): "Then do they not look at the camels - how they are created?" in a nod to the unique characteristics of the camel that call for pause and reflection. We are pursuing the same path to honor and recognize the great value of the camel in Arabic culture, which leads us to the clear realization that culture holds an important role that it must perform to express and document the close relationship that links the Arab human to his camel since ages. Over time, this bond has evolved and grown stronger. Today, the camel enjoys the care and attention of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister -may Allah bless them- as well as all segments of the Saudi society. Under the umbrella of Vision 2030, the Ministry of Culture has prioritized the preservation of cultural components that are fundamental to the Saudi identity, besides recognizing them and boosting their presence in our modern lives locally and globally. In 2024, we celebrate the camel as a highly valued cultural symbol, a key pillar of our authentic national identity, and a source of pride in every stage and domain. Naming 2024 “The Year of the Camel” comes as part of national efforts to foster the camel and industries related to it from a developmental and economic perspective. Our role at the Ministry of Culture is focused on adding a cultural dimension to the wider national mission and looking at the camel from a cultural lens that reflects its elevated stature in the hearts of Saudis. Through “The Year of the Camel” the Ministry of Culture will celebrate this important cultural component with its partners through year-round events, activities, and initiatives, which together will play their part in drawing attention to the camel's cultural value while complementing efforts aimed at developing the camel sector and increasing its contribution in economic growth

Since the emergence of the Arabic culture until the present day, the camel enjoys a deep and dear stature among the inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula across history. It is the ship of the desert that our ancestors relied on in their comings and goings. The Almighty Allah has mentioned it in his glorious verses, which emphasizes its significant position in the hearts of earlier Arabs. Allah says (Qur'an 88:17): "Then do they not look at the camels - how they are created?" in a nod to the unique characteristics of the camel that call for pause and reflection. We are pursuing the same path to honor and recognize the great value of the camel in Arabic culture, which leads us to the clear realization that culture holds an important role that it must perform to express and document the close relationship that links the Arab human to his camel since ages. Over time, this bond has evolved and grown stronger. Today, the camel enjoys the care and attention of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mos...

Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud

Minister of Culture

Vision

Solidify the strong stature of the camel and boost its presence locally and globally as an authentic cultural legacy and a core component in building civilizations.

Message

Revive the presence of the camel as a cultural icon that represents the Saudi identity and reflects its authentic values, in addition to illustrating its cultural, historical, and civilizational values.

Objectives

Boost global cultural exchange opportunities pertaining to camel-related legacy.

Recognize the camel as an authentic cultural icon of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Strengthen the deep and historic ties between the Saudi society and the camel generation after generation, and its influence on their authentic values.

Describe the civilizational value of the camel and the customs associated with it, as well as its rich cultural and historic legacy.

Showcase the camel’s key role in civilizational progress through expeditions, knowledge-seeking, and trade.

Highlight the significance of the camel economically and its role in achieving food security.

Discuss the camel’s unique capabilities, which made it occupy its prominent position in Saudi culture.