Historic Photographs Reveal Role of Camels in Building Saudi Arabia's Development Journey

As part of the tenth edition of the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival, the Camel Club is showcasing rare historical photographs dating back to 1950, taken near the Ras Tanura refinery.

The images document Aramco’s reliance at the time on camels to support daily oil-supply operations, highlighting the pivotal role camels played in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s economic development.

The displayed photographs, which attracted the attention of festival visitors, reveal an important aspect of the Kingdom’s industrial history.

They show camels carrying out logistical tasks related to transporting supplies and facilitating fieldwork in a harsh desert environment before the advent of modern machinery.

This documentation stands as one of the earliest visual records of the relationship between camels and the oil industry in past decades.

The historical pavilion sheds light on the extent of reliance on camels during that era, not only for transportation but also for supporting activities connected to various sectors.

Presenting these materials forms part of an educational message aimed at acquainting younger generations with the diverse roles camels played in the early stages of the Kingdom’s economic rise.