Interested in hiring a camel in Saudi Arabia, but worried about what it might entail? Fear not, as the country has finally introduced a rulebook for leasing grumpy, humpy dromedaries. For camel rentals, owners must be registered with the authorities, contracts must be documented electronically, and records must be updated when animals are transferred or their location changes. Camels must be returned to their original owner’s registry when the rental agreement ends. Violations may result in fines and prosecution.
But the paperwork belies how serious this matter is: Camels are revered, and prize animals can command eye-watering sums. In 2021, a Saudi owner leased a camel for 20 million riyals ($5.3 million) for just 48 hours. Chew on that.