The 5th International Conference: Camels in Arab Culture
Thursday, 16 Rajab 1446 AH (corresponding to January 16, 2025) — The conference “Camels in Arab Culture” was concluded, organized by King Saud University in partnership with the King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language. The event spanned three days, from 14 to 16 Rajab 1446 AH (corresponding to January 14–16, 2025).
The conference featured eight sessions during which forty research papers were presented by scholars from several countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Egypt, Syria, Algeria, Morocco, Lebanon, and Canada.
The papers were distributed across the following themes: Camels and Cultural Heritage, Camels in Language and Lexicon, Camels and National Cultural Identity, Camels in Arabic Poetry, Camels in Narrative and Biographical Literature, Camels in Other Literatures and Cultures, and Camels in the National Economy and Vision 2030.
Acknowledgments and Partnerships
In its concluding statement, the Department of Arabic Language and Literature and the College of Food and Agricultural Sciences expressed their gratitude to the University Council of King Saud University and the University President for their support and facilitation of the organizational processes. They also commended the King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language for its partnership and contribution to the success of the conference and its academic outcomes.
Background and Significance
The theme of the conference stemmed from an acknowledgment of camels as an enduring symbol deeply rooted in Saudi and Arab desert cultures. Camels have been integral to Arab life—economically, socially, and linguistically—appearing in lexicons, proverbs, poetry, and narratives. They represent a profound cultural memory and a heritage of pride and resilience.
The selection of this theme aligned with the Council of Ministers’ declaration of 2024 as the “Year of the Camel”, emphasizing the symbolic and cultural importance of camels in the Arabic language and heritage.
Recommendations
- Sending a letter of gratitude to the Saudi leadership and the Council of Ministers for designating 2024 as the Year of the Camel.
- Commending King Saud University for hosting and supporting the conference, and acknowledging the partnership of the King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language.
- Establishing a “Center for Cultural and Intangible Heritage Studies” within the Department of Arabic Language and Literature to align with the Ministry of Culture’s strategies and promote national heritage research through interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Supporting future conferences that explore culturally significant symbols and concepts within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
- Encouraging studies on camel-related terminology and concepts by documenting and analyzing linguistic and cultural associations.
- Creating a spoken digital lexicon that documents camel-related vocabulary as used by native speakers in everyday language.
- Including topics on the cultural and historical presence of camels in educational curricula to enrich students’ understanding of Arab heritage.
- Documenting oral traditions by collecting, preserving, and archiving folk tales, proverbs, and stories related to camels.
- Establishing both physical and virtual museums to exhibit camel-related cultural artifacts, tools, and products, and to showcase their relationship with humans.
- Emphasizing the connection between language and culture and the importance of integrating cultural heritage into linguistic studies.
- Translating and publishing the conference proceedings to contribute to global cultural awareness.
