Camels are among the most widely used large working animals globally, serving in tourism, racing, and transport with welfare standards that vary enormously by region.
Working camels face welfare challenges including overloading, inadequate water provision in hot climates, saddling injuries, and lack of veterinary care. Tourist camel operations are often the worst offenders, treating camels as machines rather than animals with welfare needs. Camel racing has improved in some Gulf states through robot jockey adoption, but training methods remain inconsistently regulated. Support for field veterinary programs is among the highest-impact interventions.