From breeding to cloning: UAE centres on a mission to preserve elite camels and safeguard cultural heritage
22 June 2025 22:12
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)With camels regarded as a key part of the UAE's cultural and natural heritage, specialised centres and organisations have made concerted efforts to conserve these 'ships of the desert' and ensure they continue to shine — from racing to serving communities — for future generations. On World Camel Day, marked annually on June 22, Aletihad looked into remarkable initiatives dedicated to this well-loved desert animal. Advanced Scientific Group (ASG), one of the oldest institutions specialising in camel research, has been making an impact worldwide since 1989."The group is considered the primary centre and global reference for everything related to infertility, reproduction, cloning, genetic analysis, and genomics in camels,' Khalifa Al Nuaimi, CEO of the Advanced Scientific Group, told Aletihad.ASG's work has been a trusted source of information when it comes to camel diseases, infertility treatment, and reproduction. Years of research has yielded crucial innovation, with many of these technologies now used in preserving distinctive camel breeds. Genetic testing has enhanced breeding programmes, Al Nuami said. "Genetic analysis creates a roadmap for production, as we match and combine the best breeds available in the Gulf region, helping us achieve our goal in the shortest possible time, especially in camel racing or milk production. However, our primary focus is currently on camel racing,' he told Aletihad. A purebred camel mother can also be spared the risks of childbirth through embryo transfer, with incubators then taking over delivery and rearing—thereby helping to preserve specific breeds, he said.Some camels from rare and valuable lineages can be cloned, too, to ensure their survival, Al Nuami said. 'Some stallions have been cloned despite having died more than 20 years ago,' he said. "Cloning has played a major role in preserving extinct breeds. Cells can also be preserved and cloned when needed, and even multiplied if they possess distinct traits."For camel owners, cloning comes with sentimental value. "Owners often have a strong emotional bond with their camels, and cloning strengthens these bonds by keeping their beloved mounts close at hand,' Al Nuami said.Emirates Smart Camel Center (ESCC), based in Umm Al Quwain, is also committed to advancing camel racing and protecting purebred camels through modern techniques and advanced veterinary care.'The centre integrates rich Emirati heritage with modern technologies and methodologies,' said Dr. Mahmoud Moussa, Head of the Veterinary Department at the ESCC, in an interview with Aletihad. 'We preserve the cultural value of camels while improving performance through scientific studies, biotechnology, and eco-friendly operations powered by solar energy—all in line with the UAE's Green Vision.'
Supporting Camel Owners The centre houses top camel breeds, famed for their racetrack strength and stamina.'Through embryo transfer, we can produce up to 10 offspring from a single camel in one season — each with a different father. This enhances genetic traits while preventing inbreeding, which could compromise the health of future generations,' he said. The hub provides all necessary medical services to camel owners using state-of-the-art medical equipment and highly qualified staff. Health advice, care tips, and advanced breeding support are also offered. 'We help owners choose the best males and females from rare breeds to ensure strong future generations. We also maintain some of the top male camels with purebred, high-genetic value to preserve biodiversity and breed integrity,' Dr. Moussa said. Beyond caring for camels, both ASG and ESCC have made it their mission to engage younger generations and keep the interest in these iconic animals alive. '(The ESCC) works annually with UAE University and the Higher Colleges of Technology in Sharjah to train undergraduate students, giving them hands-on experience and knowledge of the latest biotechnologies to improve breeding and maintain breed purity,' Dr. Moussa said.ASG also collaborates with universities, whether in the fields of reproduction, diseases, or even new medicines and vaccinations.
'We have a training partnership with the United Arab Emirates University in Al Ain, where our students receive ongoing training, in addition to our cooperation with hospitals and relevant official authorities in the country,' Al Nuaimi said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Etihad
6 hours ago
- Al Etihad
From breeding to cloning: UAE centres on a mission to preserve elite camels and safeguard cultural heritage
22 June 2025 22:12 SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)With camels regarded as a key part of the UAE's cultural and natural heritage, specialised centres and organisations have made concerted efforts to conserve these 'ships of the desert' and ensure they continue to shine — from racing to serving communities — for future generations. On World Camel Day, marked annually on June 22, Aletihad looked into remarkable initiatives dedicated to this well-loved desert animal. Advanced Scientific Group (ASG), one of the oldest institutions specialising in camel research, has been making an impact worldwide since 1989."The group is considered the primary centre and global reference for everything related to infertility, reproduction, cloning, genetic analysis, and genomics in camels,' Khalifa Al Nuaimi, CEO of the Advanced Scientific Group, told work has been a trusted source of information when it comes to camel diseases, infertility treatment, and reproduction. Years of research has yielded crucial innovation, with many of these technologies now used in preserving distinctive camel breeds. Genetic testing has enhanced breeding programmes, Al Nuami said. "Genetic analysis creates a roadmap for production, as we match and combine the best breeds available in the Gulf region, helping us achieve our goal in the shortest possible time, especially in camel racing or milk production. However, our primary focus is currently on camel racing,' he told Aletihad. A purebred camel mother can also be spared the risks of childbirth through embryo transfer, with incubators then taking over delivery and rearing—thereby helping to preserve specific breeds, he camels from rare and valuable lineages can be cloned, too, to ensure their survival, Al Nuami said. 'Some stallions have been cloned despite having died more than 20 years ago,' he said. "Cloning has played a major role in preserving extinct breeds. Cells can also be preserved and cloned when needed, and even multiplied if they possess distinct traits."For camel owners, cloning comes with sentimental value. "Owners often have a strong emotional bond with their camels, and cloning strengthens these bonds by keeping their beloved mounts close at hand,' Al Nuami Smart Camel Center (ESCC), based in Umm Al Quwain, is also committed to advancing camel racing and protecting purebred camels through modern techniques and advanced veterinary care.'The centre integrates rich Emirati heritage with modern technologies and methodologies,' said Dr. Mahmoud Moussa, Head of the Veterinary Department at the ESCC, in an interview with Aletihad. 'We preserve the cultural value of camels while improving performance through scientific studies, biotechnology, and eco-friendly operations powered by solar energy—all in line with the UAE's Green Vision.' Supporting Camel Owners The centre houses top camel breeds, famed for their racetrack strength and stamina.'Through embryo transfer, we can produce up to 10 offspring from a single camel in one season — each with a different father. This enhances genetic traits while preventing inbreeding, which could compromise the health of future generations,' he said. The hub provides all necessary medical services to camel owners using state-of-the-art medical equipment and highly qualified staff. Health advice, care tips, and advanced breeding support are also offered. 'We help owners choose the best males and females from rare breeds to ensure strong future generations. We also maintain some of the top male camels with purebred, high-genetic value to preserve biodiversity and breed integrity,' Dr. Moussa said. Beyond caring for camels, both ASG and ESCC have made it their mission to engage younger generations and keep the interest in these iconic animals alive. '(The ESCC) works annually with UAE University and the Higher Colleges of Technology in Sharjah to train undergraduate students, giving them hands-on experience and knowledge of the latest biotechnologies to improve breeding and maintain breed purity,' Dr. Moussa also collaborates with universities, whether in the fields of reproduction, diseases, or even new medicines and vaccinations. 'We have a training partnership with the United Arab Emirates University in Al Ain, where our students receive ongoing training, in addition to our cooperation with hospitals and relevant official authorities in the country,' Al Nuaimi said.
Al Etihad
11 hours ago
- Al Etihad
ADAFSA Reference Centre for Camel Diseases leads UAE to global prominence in camel health research on World Camel Day
22 June 2025 17:25 ABU DHABI (WAM)In celebration of World Camel Day on June 22, 2025, global attention turns to the historical, economic and cultural significance of camels—especially within the Middle East and Gulf region. This annual event aligns with global efforts to advance veterinary care for camels, strengthen biosecurity, and sustain the camel-rearing sector, which is vital to food Dhabi and the UAE have affirmed their leadership in this domain through the ADAFSA Reference Centre for Camel Diseases, officially recognised by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) in May 2022 as the first centre of its kind dedicated to camel this occasion, ADAFSA announced that the Centre has delivered a landmark series of scientific achievements, establishing approximately 200 advanced laboratory assays, processing over 300,000 camel samples, and providing more than one million diagnosis services—highlighting its advanced diagnostic capabilities and readiness to address disease outbreaks and emergencies. The Centre has performed whole-genome sequencing on 50 pathogens to identify virulent strains, enabling authorities to implement targeted disease control measures. It has also submitted 47 new genomic sequences to a global gene bank, reinforcing the UAE's position in camel disease a groundbreaking discovery, the Centre's experts became the first globally to detect the Wesselsbron virus (WSLV) in clinical and post-mortem samples from Ethiopian camels—a breakthrough that may explain mysterious camel fatalities over the past two findings were unveiled at the 26th African Regional Conference of WOAH, attended by senior officials and international delegates, further enhancing the Centre's and UAE's reputation in epidemiological diagnostics and global with cutting-edge molecular biology, full-genome sequencing, and bioinformatics platforms, the Centre supports early detection of infectious agents and provides diagnostic advisory services to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, Yemen, Iraq, Jordan, and other nations engaged in camel bolster its role, the Centre has launched the UAE's first biobank following global standards, storing over one million biological specimens, including reference material and specialised cells for camel and other animal disease diagnostics. The biobank supports the development of diagnostic reagents and kits, informs early-warning vaccine research, safeguards genetic diversity, and facilitates future disease preparedness Centre also leads a regional capacity-building initiative by delivering annual proficiency testing programmes, aligned with ISO/IEC 17025 standards, involving 33 regional and international laboratories from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Sudan, Jordan, Syria, and Italy. Additionally, it has organised over 20 training workshops and lectures for veterinarians, students, and researchers, and participated in more than 45 scientific conferences nationally and internationally. Its experts serve on WOAH technical committees, offering guidance on camel diseases such as trypanosomiasis, reinforcing its leadership in setting global biosecurity has also developed the Camel Health Network for the Middle East ("CAMNET"), a platform for collaboration across the Gulf, Jordan, Yemen, and Iraq. CAMNET has trained over 500 personnel to enhance regional veterinary laboratory quality. The Centre produced educational kits covering pathological anatomy, parasitology, and bacteriology, distributed to member countries to support veterinary education and field Centre has introduced the world's first proficiency-testing scheme for small ruminant pox virus assays in camels, in partnership with France's reference laboratory (CIRAD), and obtained the global ISO/IEC 17043:2023 accreditation—the first organisation globally to achieve this in camel disease Abdi Mohamed, Director of the Biosecurity Affairs Division at ADAFSA, underlined that the Reference Centre represents a realisation of UAE leadership's vision to preserve cultural heritage and bolsters food security through state-of-the-art science. She emphasised: 'We are proud that the UAE is the first nation in the world to host a WOAH‑accredited centre dedicated to camel diseases, underlining our global leadership in veterinary diagnostics and biosecurity.'She added that the centre plays a vital role in strengthening regional and international cooperation and supports the UAE's efforts in achieving food security and safeguarding animal resources. This aligns with the UAE's strategic vision for sustainable noted that the UAE and Abu Dhabi took the initiative to adopt the Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases' proposal during meetings held in Abu Dhabi and Italy in 2014–2015, which called for the establishment of a regional centre specialising in camel diseases in the Middle East. This initiative aimed to bridge knowledge gaps, enhance diagnostic capabilities, conduct epidemiological research, and facilitate knowledge May 2022, these efforts culminated in the official recognition of the Collaborating Centre for Camel Diseases by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), making it the world's first specialised centre of its kind, headquartered in Abu Dhabi, and providing diagnostic and advisory services regionally and confirmed that the centre is equipped with the latest diagnostic technologies, including advanced molecular biology tools, full and partial genome sequencing, bioinformatics, and facilities for cultivating high-risk pathogens. It also houses a biobank and camel-specific pathological anatomy capabilities, allowing for the collection of high-quality laboratory infrastructure supports early detection and identification of novel, emerging, or epidemic pathogens—strengthening national biosecurity and food safety systems and enhancing the country's emergency preparedness and response line with the One Health approach, Abdi pointed out the centre's pivotal role in combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR), through antibiotic susceptibility testing and contributions to peer-reviewed scientific publications on AMR. It also manages a dedicated biobank of resistant microbial isolates. The centre conducts annual awareness campaigns and participates in global partnerships, such as the UAE–UK Biosecurity Alliance, further strengthening its position as a strategic partner in advancing global also highlighted the centre's strong track record in global scientific research, having published over 30 papers in leading peer-reviewed journals. The centre has issued an atlas and a specialised reference book on camel diseases and established the Camel Health Network for the Middle East (CAMNET) to foster regional cooperation and training. To date, over 500 trainees from countries in the region have benefitted. Among its most notable contributions, the centre made a groundbreaking discovery by identifying the Wesselsbron virus as a potential cause of mysterious camel deaths in Ethiopia—further affirming the UAE's global leadership in diagnostics and biosecurity.
Al Etihad
3 days ago
- Al Etihad
From lab to market: ATRC entities turn breakthrough research into real-world technologies
20 June 2025 02:27 SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)Fuelling the UAE's push for innovation and a knowledge-based future are local labs and institutions that transform cutting-edge research into homegrown Advanced Technology Research Council's (ATRC) key entities - TII, ASPIRE, and SteerAI - are translating advanced science into real-world solutions that serve communities and national priorities, from AI to robotics and automation. "We are helping the UAE shift from adopting technologies to building them - delivering real economic and strategic value," said Dr. Najwa Aaraj, CEO of TII, in an interview with Aletihad . "Whether it is AI, quantum, robotics, or advanced materials, we are working on scalable, secure systems that support industrial resilience and self-reliance."Radar systems, edge AI tools, and impact-responsive body armour are some of the technologies that are moving "steadily from lab to market", supported by TII's commercialisation partner VentureOne, Dr. Aaraj ProjectsTII has been working with major government entities to advance next-generation technologies across sectors, from aerial systems and quantum-secure space communications to AI-enabled healthcare."Our robotics centre worked with the GCAA on autonomous aerial corridors. In quantum, we are partnering with the UAE Space Agency on secure communications for space infrastructure," Dr. Aaraj said."In AI, we enable edge-based models for healthcare and government, while in autonomous robotics, we are advancing GPS-free navigation for logistics and inspections."TII also invests in local talent. "Programmes like NexTech embed top Emirati STEM students in international universities and bring them back to our research centres to build the next generation of UAE scientists," she with Real-World ImpactATRC's ASPIRE also seeks to "bridge the gap between breakthrough research and tangible, real-world impact", turning lab ideas into deployable tech across key sectors. Speaking to Aletihad , Stephane Timpano, CEO of ASPIRE and A2RL, said: "From tackling carbon storage monitoring to shaping air corridors for autonomous mobility, our work ensures that emerging technologies meet real industrial and societal needs." ASPIRE focuses on "dual-use, high-impact technologies", including AI, robotics, and advanced materials."We are proving high-performance systems can be designed and built in the UAE," Timpano said, highlighting projects like A2RL's EAV-24 autonomous lab-to-market process starts by identifying real-world challenges in priority sectors, he said."Then, we invite global and local innovators to solve (these challenges) through competitive, milestone-driven programmes. Once a solution proves viable, we help de-risk and scale it."The goal, Timpano added, is to "forge new collaborations and show how the UAE is not just buying innovation but building it"."Everything we do is designed to grow the UAE's intellectual capital," he SolutionsSteerAI, on the other hand, seeks to drive the UAE's shift from tech importer to innovator through sovereign autonomous mobility Michael Sonderby, Acting CEO of SteerAI, told Aletihad that the company is helping drive the UAE's shift from tech importer to innovator through sovereign autonomous mobility solutions."SteerAI is a direct product of the UAE's ambition to become a global leader in advanced manufacturing and AI innovation," said Michael Sonderby, Acting CEO of an instance, its autonomous GPS-free system, CoreX, was developed at the Technology Innovation Institute (TII) and is now being deployed with partners like A2RL and Milrem Robotics."CoreX allows our vehicles to navigate unmapped terrain in real time without relying on GPS or maps," Sonderby said. "It has huge implications for defence, ISR, search and rescue, and more." SteerAI's CoreX system is designed to keep humans out of danger zones, he said. "It does not tire, get distracted, or miss signals. We detect and avoid obstacles faster than human drivers." By supporting the country's autonomous tech ecosystem, SteerAI's "goal is to contribute to the UAE's vision of becoming a global tech hub", Sonderby said.
