After the Ministry of Culture declared 2024 the “Year of the Camel” to highlight its role in national identity, the Fashion Commission released a detailed report titled “Camels and Contemporary Fashion”, shedding light on the economic potential of camel leather. The main highlights were:
Demand for camel leather is projected to grow by 18% between 2023 and 2028.
Demand could generate up to $98.7 million USD in annual revenues for the Saudi economy.
The global camel population is estimated at 42 million, with 94% found in Arab countries.
The Arabian camel is the only domesticated breed in the Kingdom, with its hair, leather, and bones already being used in fashion.
Saudi Arabia holds the fifth-largest camel population worldwide, estimated at around 2 million.
Camel hides are considered a secondary byproduct of the meat industry, yet they unlock a wide range of fashion applications.
Known for their high durability, camel hides are considered among the most suitable materials for luxury fashion items such as shoes, handbags, belts, and wallets.
The global luxury leather market was valued at $75.8 billion in 2023. Alternative leathers, including camel leather, represented just 2% of that, or about $1.5 billion USD. This share is expected to rise to 22% over the next five years, pushing its value to $92.4 billion USD by 2028.
If positioned successfully as a premium alternative and able to capture up to 1% of the global luxury leather market, camel leather could generate about $827 million USD by 2025, rising to nearly $924 million USD by 2028.
A Look at Camel-Derived Materials Used in Fashion
Arabian Camel Leather: Saudi Arabia is expected to record a growth rate of 26% in leather footwear revenues over the next five years, rising from $290 million to $490 million USD. This is significantly higher than the global growth rate for footwear revenues, which is projected at only 12% over the same period.
Arabian Camel Hair and Wool: Widely used in crafting handbags, and also in the production of traditional bisht cloaks.
Arabian Camel Teeth and Bones: Used in making jewelry pieces made of beads and pendants, such as bracelets and necklaces.
Camel Intestines (wabar Alfawalij): Considered a luxury material, it has been used in polo coats by fashion houses such as Ralph Lauren, Louis Vuitton, and Burda. It can also be blended with nylon for hosiery production.
Tourism and Fashion
Mashael Al-Faqih, CEO of the Handicrafts Association, emphasized that the tourism sector in Saudi Arabia has played a major role in boosting demand for camel leather, with visitors from around the world contributing to this growth. She noted that fostering collaboration between local fashion designers and artisans in creating distinctive products can further accelerate opportunities. Continued support for artisans will help create more opportunities for camel leather products to find their way into the rapidly expanding fashion sector.
