Umm Al-Qura University launched today, Thursday, 26 December 2024, the "Camels: The Arabs' Mounts and Their Language" forum at the university, coinciding with Year of the Camel 2024, in an event that brings together heritage and culture to highlight the camel's place in Arab heritage and Saudi cultural identity.

An Accompanying Exhibition and Content-Rich Panel Discussions

The forum included an exhibition showcasing camel literature in Arab heritage, alongside panel discussions covering various themes that shine a light on the unique relationship between camels and Arabs, including:

First Session:

  • "The Caravan of Camels and the Rhyme of Beauty": examined the relationship between language and cultural beauty in camel literature.
  • "The Camel: The Arab's Vessel and Vehicle of Language": reviewed terms borrowed for camels across semantic fields and their impact on linguistic heritage through to modern usage.

Second Session:

  • "The Departing Camel Between Presence and Absence": a literary reading tracing the camel's image in classical Arabic literature.
  • "The Camel in the Image of the Howdah-Borne Women": an analytical approach to the traditions of pre-Islamic poetry and the camel's symbolism in the literary heritage.

The Forum's Significance in Celebrating the Camel

Dr. Saeed bin Mohammed Al Yazid, Dean of the College of Arabic Language and Literature, said the forum aims to:

  • Celebrate the camel as a unique cultural symbol tied to Arab life since the dawn of history.
  • Highlight the camel's presence in the Holy Qur'an and in classical and modern Arabic literature.
  • Shine a light on the camel's role as a core cultural element of Saudi identity.

He noted that camels have formed an inseparable part of Arab life, opening poems, inspiring proverbs, and appearing throughout folk tales, pointing to their enduring cultural symbolism to this day.

The Camel: A Symbol of Authenticity and Identity

The "Camels: The Arabs' Mounts" forum embodies Umm Al-Qura University's vision of celebrating heritage and highlighting the camel's standing as a living witness to the authenticity and cultural identity of Saudi Arabia, and a reminder of its central role in Arab life across the ages.