Saudi Arabia Introduces World's First Camel Hotel: Have 120 Rooms With Full Service

Illustration of a camel. (Wikimedia Commons/Binarysequence)

JAKARTA - Saudi Arabia has launched what it says is the world's first camel hotel, dedicated to camel service and care during the sixth King Abdul Aziz Camel Festival.

The hotel, dubbed Rest Assured, was seen in a video uploaded by the Saudi group Camel Club on Sunday in Riyadh.

"This hotel is named 'Tetaman' [Rest] and includes 120 hotel rooms that provide all services for camels. More than 50 people are employed in this hotel throughout the room service, care, attention, care and protection," explained Mohammed Al Harbi, a spokesman for the Saudi Camel Club, as reported by The National News January 10.

Al Harbi said the hotel provides five-star services for its guest camels, including food, hot milk and ensuring the cage is clean and warm. He added that the hotel currently charges around 400 Saudi riyals, or about $106.5 per night.

"The idea of this hotel is very good and comfortable for camel owners and club officials. Camels are checked first before entering their rooms," explained camel owner Omair Al Qahtani.

Meanwhile, the 40-day camel festival, starting on December 1 in Riyadh, brings together camel owners and enthusiasts from the Gulf, the US, Australia, France to Russia.

The festival attracts more than 100,000 visitors daily from around the world, seeking to preserve the camel's role in Saudi Arabia's Bedouin traditions and heritage, even as the oil-rich country continues to advance with modernization.

To note, camel breeding is a multi-million dollar industry, with similar events happening across the region.