Saudi Arabia launches camel passport to regulate and digitize camel sector

Saudi Arabia Launches Camel Passport Initiative to Regulate and Digitize Camel Sector

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has launched a new Camel Passport initiative, a regulatory and digital system designed to organize the camel sector, document ownership and identity, and improve service efficiency and market transparency.

The project was inaugurated on Tuesday by Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Mansour Al-Mushaiti and falls under the ministry’s National Program for the Development of the Livestock and Fisheries Sector.

According to the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, the initiative aims to unify regulatory and digital frameworks governing the camel sector by formally documenting camel ownership, breed classification, health status, and identification details. The passport will serve as an officially recognized reference to support veterinary services, market credibility, and regulatory oversight.

Each camel passport functions as a comprehensive identification document and includes a microchip number, passport number, camel name, date of birth, breed, gender, color, place of birth, and issuance details. It also contains photographs of the animal from both sides to ensure accurate identity verification.

The passport features a dedicated vaccination and medical record section, documenting immunizations and veterinary treatments. These records are certified with the name, signature, and official stamp of the attending veterinarian.

The ministry said the initiative will help regulate camel sales and trading by organizing transportation, ownership transfers, and official documentation. Officials say this will protect owners’ rights while increasing confidence and trust among buyers and sellers.

The Camel Passport is also expected to enhance the market value of camels by enabling pricing based on verified data such as health condition, breed, and lineage. This added transparency is intended to strengthen both local and international camel auctions.

In addition, the initiative will support long-term strategic planning by providing accurate data on camel populations, including age, gender, breed, and color distribution. Authorities say the data will help guide national livestock planning, improve breeding efficiency, and support genetic performance analysis and local breed improvement programs.