Why did Saudi Arabia name 2024 the year of the camel?

2024-04-14 2024-04-14T10:24:48Z

Weather of Arabia - Since ancient times, camels were not just animals in the Arab region, but rather they were an integral part of people’s lives and culture. Camels represented pride and wealth for their owners, and a source of livelihood and giving. People ate their meat, drank their milk, and were used to carry weights and make life easier. Daily.

Today, camels remain a living symbol of heritage and culture in the region, as they express a rich history and eternal glory, and carry within them values and customs that characterize Arab civilization and Saudi society in particular. Camels occupy a special place as they are an integral part of the cultural heritage, and form the backbone of people’s lives in the region. Badia.

The Saudi Ministry of Culture is taking a distinctive initiative to honor this heritage, as it decided to name the year 2024 as the Year of the Camel in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

This initiative aims to preserve national identity, spread awareness of the importance of camels as part of cultural heritage, and highlight their role in the economy, tourism and culture.

With this step, camels are highlighted as an invaluable cultural and heritage wealth, and their status as an integral element of the Saudi identity rooted in history and civilization is strengthened.

A long-standing position and a deep relationship; Established by #Year_of_the_Camel 2024, a celebration of authenticity and heritage. #Ministry_of_Culture pic.twitter.com/lRgx179xXG

- Ministry of Culture (@MOCSaudi) December 19, 2023

Launching the Camel Initiative 2024... enhancing the cultural and economic identity of camels in Saudi Arabia

The initiative also aims to highlight the role of camels in cultural development through exploration trips, the pursuit of knowledge and trade, and to shed light on their economic importance in achieving food security, in addition to introducing people to the civilizational and cultural value of camels and the customs resulting from them, and highlighting their ancient historical and cultural heritage. The initiative also aims to showcase The unique capabilities of camels have made them occupy a prominent place in Saudi culture.

The initiative seeks to celebrate camels, consolidate the deep and ancient relationship between Saudi society and camels, enhance the values that they transmit from generation to generation, and enhance opportunities for international cultural exchange related to camels.

The Saudi Ministry of Culture will supervise the Year of the Camel 2024 , as it will implement initiatives and programs to enhance national efforts to develop the camel sector and increase its contribution to national development. The Ministry will also work to enhance the established position of camels locally and internationally, as an authentic cultural heritage and an essential component of civilizational construction.

The Ministry will also try to revive the presence of camels as a cultural icon that reflects Saudi identity, highlights its values, and highlights their cultural, historical and civilizational value.

A touch of loyalty through the Camel Initiative 2024

Dr. Mubarak Al-Suwailem, a specialist in camel culture, considers naming the year 2024 “the Year of the Camel in the Kingdom” a touch of loyalty to this beautiful creature and a victory for the camel sector, and he considers it an important step towards strengthening the presence of camels as a culture that is presented to the entire world. He points out that camels are not just races and festivals, but rather a comprehensive culture that includes ways of dealing with them and their historical role in transportation and securing food.

Al-Suwailem adds that camels constitute an essential part of the region's culture, are very popular among visitors to the Gulf region, and are considered one of the most important components of Saudi and Arab culture alike.

The year 2024 will be an opportunity to shed light on camel culture and economics through initiatives that enhance cultural and economic aspects, such as establishing factories to produce camel milk and meat, and developing research and studies in this field.

The current stage in the Kingdom is considered a new stage for the camel sector, as it has been regulated and increased interest in it as an economic resource, national value and cultural symbolism, through various initiatives that include various festivals and competitions, which has contributed positively to the development of this sector on the cultural, economic and tourism levels.