Camels are used as working animals across North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia, with welfare challenges from overloading, poor dental management, and camel racing practices.
Working camel welfare involves both the physical demands of carrying loads and the welfare implications of racing. Overloaded camels develop back lesions and gait abnormalities from sustained weight-bearing above their capacity. Racing camels are subjected to intensive training regimes and may experience injury. The transition from child to robot jockeys in Gulf racing removed one serious welfare concern but racing conditions remain demanding for the animals. Dental management, proper load fitting, and workload limits directly improve individual camel welfare. The Brooke's camel welfare programmes in relevant regions provide community-based support for improved working animal care.