Camel info.

Camel Culture

General Information

The camel is a large, strong desert animal that can go for long distances across the hot, dry desert. There are two main kinds of camels; the Arabian camel, also called dromedary, which has one hump, and the Bactrian camel, which has two humps.

Camels typically weigh from 250 to 680 Kg and are between 1.8 and 2 meters tall. They appear larger due to the thickness of their fur. During the spring, the camel loses its fur and grows a new coat, during that time it looks slimmer.

A camel’s broad cushiony foot is what enables it to walk across desert sands without sinking, as cars would. The camel’s long curly eyelashes protect its eyes from the desert sand and its think eyelids shield its eyes from the strong desert sun. A camel’s ear is covered with hair inside and out to help keep the desert sand out. Camels can carry up to 450 Kg and travel 40 Km at 5 Km an hour.

A camel can go without water for over a week and without food for several months at a time. It stores excess fat in the lump on its back and uses that fat when there is a shortage of food. The hump of a well-fed camel weighs up to 35 Kg. As the camel uses its fat surplus the hump shrinks and may even fall to the camel’s side.

Camels in the UAE

Camels are an integral part of UAE heritage and history. They provided the main means of transportation across the desert sands and were the Bedouin’s companion. Besides travel, the camel had many other uses. The camel’s wool was used for making clothes and tents, while the its strong, tough skin made it suitable for shoes, bags, and saddles. Even camel droppings were dried and used for fuel.

Furthermore, camel’s milk was, and is still, very popular among Emiratis. Research has shown that camel’s milk is more nutritious than cow’s milk. It has less lactose and fat and contains more potassium, iron, and vitamin C. It has natural anti-aging properties and is generally good for beauty. In fact in the past few years camel milk has been rebranded and remarketed in the UAE to transition it from being the Bedouin’s drink to a popular drink among all segments of society. One great example is the milk brand Camelicious.

Although the need for camels has greatly diminished, camels still hold a very special place in the UAE culture. This is evident from the multiple races that attract fans and spectators from all corners of the country.