Camels are synonymous with Saudi pride and are even mentioned in the Holy Qur’an.

The chairman of the Camel Club, Fahd bin Falah bin Hathleen, said camels were vital to the history of the country and were its past, present, and future.

“Camels have a long history and everlasting glory for the Arab and Saudi man in particular, and the care for camels in itself is a care for people, because camels are their history, strength and pride. For decades throughout the Arab world, people used camels to travel from one place to another, feeding from their milk and meat,” he said.

The Ithra parade camels were award-winning, with one of them having scooped first place in a recent competition, and they were also among the most expensive in the world.

Strong gusts could not keep the excited crowd away.

People dressed in traditional clothing, taking selfies and videos in anticipation of the main event, and Saudi flags fluttered proudly in the wind.

But the camels came at their own pace and arrived fashionably late, about 1.5 hours behind schedule.

But nobody minded as it was the highlight of the day. Men with swords rode some of the humped creatures, while the most expensive ones went alone.

The club started its parade at the famous Oil Well No. 7, where Saudi Arabia's oil expedition began.

In a way of honoring the journey of the Kingdom itself, the camels walked the path and reminded spectators of the rich history of the land they were standing on.