Camel Microchip in Saudi Arabia: Naama, Camel Passport, Ownership
Camel microchipping is mandatory in Saudi Arabia: a chip in the left side of the neck, 15 digits. Penalties, the Camel Passport, readers and records explained.
Camel microchipping is mandatory in Saudi Arabia under a Council of Ministers decision. A rice-grain-sized chip is placed under the skin on the left side of the neck and carries a 15-digit number. Owners of unchipped camels face a fine per head and lose access to veterinary services, camel markets, festivals and support programmes. The Camel Passport links the chip to the animal's data and ownership.
This guide brings together what the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) has announced about the chip and the Camel Passport, explains how a chip reader works, and shows how to make the chip number the key of each camel's file in your daily records. Procedures can change, so always confirm the steps on the official pages before you act.
What is the camel microchip and why is it mandatory?
The chip is a small capsule with no battery. It is injected under the skin once and stays for the animal's whole life. When a compatible reader comes close, the chip takes its energy from the reader's signal and transmits its unique number.
MEWA announced that electronic chipping became mandatory for all camel owners in the Kingdom, and that more than 1.4 million camels had been chipped by 1442 AH through approved veterinary facilities. The stated aims include a complete camel database, documented ownership, fewer stray camels and road accidents, and better veterinary services.
Chip specifications and penalties at a glance
| Item | What the authorities announced |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Council of Ministers decision making camel chipping mandatory |
| Chip | Rice-grain-sized capsule under the skin |
| Position | Left side of the neck |
| Number | 15 digits, unique to each camel |
| Who fits it | Approved veterinary facilities acting as service providers |
| Non-compliance | Financial fine for each unchipped head |
| Services you lose | Veterinary services and reports, camel markets and festivals, herder recruitment, livestock support programmes |
We do not quote fine amounts here because they can be updated; check the current figure with MEWA or on the Naama platform.
The Camel Passport: what does it link to the chip?
According to MEWA's Camel Passport announcement, the passport links the chip number to the camel's breed, sex, colour, photos, vaccinations and ownership. In short, the chip is the number and the passport is the official identity that proves who owns the camel and what its health history is.
Transferring camel ownership
Because ownership is tied to the chip in the official register, selling or buying a camel means ownership must also move in the register, not only on paper. The steps and conditions are set by the official service, so do not rely on hearsay: go to Naama or the MEWA website and follow the service steps exactly as shown there. A practical tip: before buying, scan the chip yourself and check that the number matches the seller's documents.
How does a camel chip reader work?
A reader is a handheld device that sends a low-frequency signal; the chip wakes up and answers with its number, which appears on the reader screen or is sent to your phone. Points to keep in mind:
- Short range. Implanted chips are usually read at close range, so pass the reader slowly along the left side of the neck.
- Compatibility. Not every reader reads every chip. Before buying, ask the supplier directly whether the device reads the camel chips approved in Saudi Arabia, and test it on a chipped camel.
- Bluetooth. A reader that connects to your phone by Bluetooth saves you typing 15 digits by hand, which is the most common source of errors.
- Conditions. Nearby metal (steel pens) and a moving animal lower the success rate; read when the camel is calm.
For more on the technology, see our articles on RFID ear tags and on RFID tag standards and buying tips.
Keeping the chip number in the camel's file in Throf
The chip gives you an official number, but it does not tell you when the she-camel was mated, how much her calf weighs, or what you spent on her this month. That is the job of your farm records.
In Throf every camel has a file with its number and tag, breed, sex, birth date, photo, mother, father and group. You can pair a Bluetooth (BLE) RFID reader with the app on Android and iOS (iOS needs a BLE-capable reader). If the reader is compatible with the chip, the number is filled in automatically when you add or look up the camel. If it is not, type the number once, carefully; from then on it is the key of the file.
Everything then gathers around that one number:
- Vaccinations, treatments and inspections, with reminders for the next due date.
- Mating, pregnancy (about 390 days, or 12 to 13 months), calving and weaning.
- Weights, milk and feed.
- Expenses, sales and cost per head, plus partners' ownership shares if the herd is jointly owned.
When you sell, you have a complete file that reassures the buyer and a chip number that matches the official register. For more on organising the herd, read camel herd management and Majaheem and Maghateer camel breeds, and see Throf for camel herds.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Buying a camel without scanning its chip and matching the number to the documents.
- Writing the chip number only in the herder's notebook, where it gets lost or loses a digit.
- Buying a cheap reader without checking that it reads the approved chips.
- Leaving calves unchipped until market season, then finding the camel cannot enter the market or festival.
- Following social media posts for procedures instead of the official service page.
Get started
Register your herd in Throf on the free plan for small herds, or choose a plan and pay online for larger herds (coupon THROF15 gives 15% off). To buy a Bluetooth reader or a smart scale, request a quote for tags or a scale on WhatsApp.
FAQ
Where is the camel microchip placed in Saudi Arabia?
It is implanted under the skin on the left side of the camel's neck. It is the size of a grain of rice, carries a 15-digit number and is fitted by an approved veterinary service provider.
What is the penalty for not chipping a camel?
MEWA announced a fine for each unchipped head, plus loss of veterinary services, camel markets and festivals, herder recruitment and support programmes. Check the current fine amount on the official sources.
How do I check a camel's chip or transfer ownership?
These are official services. Use the Naama platform or the MEWA website and follow the steps shown there, and scan the chip yourself before you buy.
Can any RFID reader read a camel chip?
Not necessarily. Ask the supplier to confirm compatibility with the camel chips approved in Saudi Arabia and test the reader on a chipped camel before buying.
General guidance only — it does not replace your veterinarian or the competent authority in your country.
