- Title: SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi camel breeder owns herd worth estimated 40 million dollars
- Date: 27th February 2013
- Summary: BURAIDAH, SAUDI ARABIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) SAUDI CAMELS BREEDERS SITING IN A TENT DISCUSSING CAMELS IBRAHIM AL-MUHAILEB, CAMEL BREEDER CLOSE OF FRESH CAMEL MILK IN METAL BOWL AL-MUHAILEB DRINKING FRESH CAMEL MILK CAMELS BREEDERS SITTING, TALKING POET RECITING POEM IN HONOUR OF AL-MUHAILEB WINNING AUM RUQAIBA CAMELS CONTEST 2012 AL-MUHAILEB LISTENING TO POEM CLOSE OF HANDS HOLDING ROSARY BEADS AL-MUHAILEB LISTENING TO POEM VARIOUS OF AL-MUHAILEB EXPENSIVE CAMELS IN DESERT (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) IBRAHIM AL-MUHAILEB, CAMEL BREEDER, SAYING: "I own rare camels, here in the Arabian Peninsula, here in Saudi Arabia. I've bought camels at over 150 million (Riyals) and are now worth double their value. However, I kept them because I love camels, I would not have received first prize in this Peninsula -- which is precious to me and all the Saudi people -- if I had not have paid the hundreds of millions." CALF SUCKLING FROM MOTHER (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) IBRAHIM AL-MUHAILEB, CAMEL BREEDER, SAYING: "I like it and have paid large sums of money for it - millions - this is my hobby. Perhaps some people are not supportive of this but the majority of people support my ways and my purchases. I bought camels and entered the Aum Rquaiba contest for two consecutive years and came first." VARIOUS OF CALVES IN DESERT (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) IBRAHIM AL-MUHAILEB, CAMEL BREEDER, SAYING: "The highest price I have paid was for 10 (female) camels and was fifty million (Riyals) and one of them was worth 30 million (Riyals) - I named her Saudia after our country and another I named 'Kingdom' after this country." CAMEL WALKING BETWEEN TWO CARS, CAMEL BREEDERS IN CARS AL-MUHAILEB FEEDING CAMELS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) IBRAHIM AL-MUHAILEB, CAMEL BREEDER, SAYING: "For the female camel it is the large size of the head, the top neck, the face, the ears, are all characteristics of the Mughter camel (the white camel). The characteristics of the white camel differ from the characteristics of the Mujhem Camel (the black camel ) and others. The Mughter must have a full face and large head and high neck and the neck is big in the back." CAMELS WALKING PAST CAR AUCTIONEER AUCTIONING REGULAR CAMELS AT CAMELS MARKET CAMELS AT CAMEL MARKET MAN LEADING WHITE CAMEL AND HER CALVES MORE OF AUCTIONEER AUCTIONING CAMELS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ABDELAZIZ AL-SALOOM, AUCTIONEER AT CAMELS MARKET, SAYING: "Those worth one million and two million, one and a half million, and five hundred these are rare and not brought to this market - the camels of Saudi Arabia are the best in the Arabian Peninsula, they are sold for millions and is now spread everywhere, thanks to God." CLOSE OF CAMELS FACE CAMEL WALKING AWAY
- Embargoed: 14th March 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Saudi Arabia
- Country: Saudi Arabia
- Topics: Business,Environment,Lifestyle
- Reuters ID: LVA6G7H4R1XBC5IBR5MZ7AL6BOQJ
- Story Text: Throughout Arab history camels have served multiple purposes as food, friends, means of transport and war machines. They were key to the Arab conquests of the Middle East and North Africa nearly 1,400 years ago which first helped spread Islam to the world.
Saudi camel breeder, Ibrahim al-Muhaileb, boasts ownership of camels worth approximately 40 million U.S. dollars (USD). Al-Muhaileb is considered to have one of the largest collections of rare and expensive camels in the country.
Al-Muhaileb hosts fellow camel enthusiasts at a camp set up 190 kilometres north of Buraidah where he and his guests sit and discuss their mutual hobby, drink coffee and fresh camels milk and listen to poetry. They then make their way into the desert for a tour of al-Muhaileb prized possessions.
"I own rare camels, here in the Arabian Peninsula, here in Saudi Arabia," says al-Muhaileb.
"I've bought camels at over 150 million (Riyals) and are now worth double their value. However, I kept them because I love camels, I would not have received first prize in this Peninsula -- which is precious to me and all the Saudi people -- if I had not paid the hundreds of millions," he adds.
In 2012 al-Muhaileb's expensive camels earned him top prize in the Umm Rqaida, King Abdelaziz Aware for Camels Beauty contest, elevating their status in the country to 'award winning'.
Not many can afford the significant sums these rare camels cost, however for al-Muhaileb the pleasure and pride he gains from his hobby is worth every penny.
"I like it and have paid large sums of money for it - millions - this is my hobby. Perhaps some people are not supportive of this but the majority of people support my ways and my purchases," he said.
One of al-Muhaileb's most expensive purchases came in at a staggering 30 million Riyals (7,999,306 USD) and was named 'Saudia' after his beloved country.
Abdelaziz al-Saloom auctions camels at a camel market in Buraidah. Al-Saloom says that camels like al-Muhaileb's are not usually found at market for they are too dear.
"Those worth one million and two million, one and a half million, and five hundred these are rare and not brought to this market," he said.
"The camels of Saudi Arabia are the best in the Arabian Peninsula, they are sold for millions and is now spread everywhere, thanks to God," he added.
Camels are big business in the desert kingdom and are traded by Bedouin tribes for thousands of dollars each. The animals are used for racing and their meat is also prized. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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