Saudi Ministry of Culture Celebrates Successful Year of the Camel

Saudi Arabia launched the Year of the Camel initiative earlier this year to celebrate the camel as a cornerstone of Saudi cultural identity. SPA
Saudi Arabia launched the Year of the Camel initiative earlier this year to celebrate the camel as a cornerstone of Saudi cultural identity. SPA
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Saudi Ministry of Culture Celebrates Successful Year of the Camel

Saudi Arabia launched the Year of the Camel initiative earlier this year to celebrate the camel as a cornerstone of Saudi cultural identity. SPA
Saudi Arabia launched the Year of the Camel initiative earlier this year to celebrate the camel as a cornerstone of Saudi cultural identity. SPA

The Saudi Ministry of Culture has held a ceremony in Laysen Valley, Riyadh, to celebrate the successful conclusion of the Year of the Camel initiative.

Key partners who contributed significantly to achieving the cultural year's objectives were honored at Saturday’s ceremony, which started with a captivating visual presentation of Alheda'a, an oral polyphonic expression accompanied by gestures or musical instruments played by herders to communicate with their camels, recently inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, followed by a visual presentation summarizing the achievements of the Year of the Camel and highlighting the collaborative efforts of the ministry and its partners from the public, private, and non-profit sectors.

The ceremony marked the culmination of a three-day closing activities of the festival organized by the Ministry of Culture, which featured an array of events and activities celebrating camels and their significance in Saudi culture that attracted a large and enthusiastic audience.

The Ministry launched the Year of the Camel initiative earlier this year to celebrate the camel as a cornerstone of Saudi cultural identity. Throughout the year, numerous cultural events and activities were organized both domestically and internationally, celebrating camels and the rich cultural heritage they represent.



Cultural Activities of King Abdulaziz Camel Festival Conclude with Over 320 Competitive Rounds

The ninth edition of the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival - SPA/File Photo
The ninth edition of the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival - SPA/File Photo
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Cultural Activities of King Abdulaziz Camel Festival Conclude with Over 320 Competitive Rounds

The ninth edition of the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival - SPA/File Photo
The ninth edition of the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival - SPA/File Photo

The ninth edition of the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival concluded on Thursday with the Al-Fahl Al-Muntij competitions for the “Shaal,” “Safar,” and “Wadah” categories, marking the end of an exceptional event held under the theme “Pride of Its People.”

The festival aimed to elevate camels as a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s rich heritage and as a source of both local and global pride and interest.
Spanning more than 30 days, the festival featured over 320 competitive rounds, including Mazayen, Hajij, Tabaa, and camel races.

The event showcased a variety of camel types, such as Majahim, Wadah, Shaqah, Hamr, Safar, Shaal, Asayel, Sawahel, and hybrid camels, according to SPA.
Dedicated categories were organized for both individual and group competitions, drawing extensive participation from camel owners across the Gulf region, the Arab world, and beyond. Notably, the festival featured the Princess Nourah’s Round, exclusively for women, highlighting their contributions to camel heritage.
The final day was a cultural celebration, with diverse activities for attendees. The cultural tent hosted various programs, including Hanna Lahaa performances, camel owners’ celebrations, and vibrant camel processions entering the Rimat gates to be showcased before judging panels. Presentations on algorithm-based judging stages captivated audiences, culminating in the announcement of results, which drew enthusiastic reactions from the crowd.