RIYADH: The Ministry of Culture has introduced a camel studies grant, an initiative designed to highlight the essential role camels play in Saudi Arabia’s cultural, social, and economic spheres through rigorous scientific research. The grant invites proposals that delve into various aspects of camel significance, including historical, cultural, social, economic, environmental, and health-related dimensions, Saudi Press Agency reported. The historical dimension of the grant includes studies comparing the importance of camels across civilizations, historical and ethnographic analysis of camel-related traditions, and exploration of archival methods for safeguarding this heritage. The cultural dimension focuses on the artistic and literary depictions of camels. Researchers are encouraged to conduct critical and literary studies on the representation of camels in Arabic and Saudi literature, including childrens books. The field is open to studies on camel-related vocabulary and their portrayal in various artistic media, from visual and cinematic arts to engravings and sculptures. The social dimension examines the role of camels in Arab and Islamic societies. Research topics include the local significance of camels, their social impact, traditions linked to camel ownership, and the influence of national camel events on communities, both locally and globally. The economic dimension explores the financial contributions of camels and camel-derived products. Researchers can analyze the use of camel wool and leather in the fashion and furniture industries, assess the sustainability of the economic viability of camel products, and measure the financial impact of camel festivals and related institutions. Meanwhile the environmental dimension will welcome research on sustainable land use for camel grazing, carbon dioxide emissions analysis, and the role of camels in maintaining ecological balance in arid regions. Under the health dimension, researchers examine the medical and therapeutic applications of camel products, develop technologies for measuring camel meat quality, and focus on camel breed preservation and genetic mapping. The launch of the grant coincides with the UN’s declaration of 2024 as the International Year of Camelids, as well as Saudi Arabia’s designation of 2024 as the Year of the Camel.