Saudi Arabia has to import sand and camels: Here’s why
If someone asked you to describe Saudi Arabia, what would come to your mind? A desert full of sand with lots of camels, right? Anyone would imagine Saudi Arabia like this and that is what it is. But if someone told you that the country imports all three from outside for its own requirements, it would come as a big surprise, we bet! Let’s find out why this is so.
Saudi Arabia at a glance
Located in southwest Asia, Saudi Arabia is the largest country in Arabia, roughly a size of 2.2 million square km. 95% of the country is desert including the world's largest and driest sand desert — the 'Rub'al-Khali. Of course, accordingly, it has loads and loads of sand all around. And less than 7% of its total area is suitable for cultivation. With such a kind of topography, it becomes easy to guess the national animal of the country. Camel, of course! The camel population is estimated to be over 1.6 million within the Arabian Peninsula — with about 53 percent of those camels found in Saudi. And that number has been growing.
Why does Saudi import camels?
Now, if you thought a camel was only a means of transport or a warfare vehicle or used for hunting expeditions or camel racing sport in the big desolate lands of Saudi, then you are wrong. Camels have long been the survival tools for Arabians. Quite literally! They are their source of milk and meat. In fact, camel meat is a huge part of the Arabian diet.
But the Saudi camel herd is increasingly being domesticated and bred for racing and as a source of entertainment and not so much for eating. Hence, the need for importing camels from other countries. The suppliers have mostly been from Australia and Africa. Saudis traditionally import camels from North Africa, but a combination of disease, drought and political instability has made Australia a better supplier over the years.
Why Australia? Because the continent has the largest population of camels left in the world. Not only are they wild but also genetically diverse, as these camels were imported from northern India (what is now Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran) in the 19th century. Aussie camels are believed to be more suitable for eating since they are plumper and tastier than the local ones.
Why does Saudi import sand?
Sand is needed for almost all major construction works, even all the major building materials - concrete, bricks, glass - are made using sand. In fact, this is what makes it the second most used natural commodity after water.
If you thought Saudi will have no dearth of this resource and it can take trucks full of sand from its deserts, then once again, you are wrong.
Saudi Arabia may be a sandy desert, but the sand is not of the right quality for construction. Individual desert sand granules have smooth edges which are useless for construction, while river sand has jagged edges which is what construction concrete needs. Even normal beach sand is not useful as construction material because of the presence of salt in it. Accordingly, river sand is in huge demand and short supply because of a growing level of construction activities around the world. Moreover, it takes hundreds of years for a river to make sand!