The Ministry of Agriculture confirmed Tuesday that subsidies on flour and bread will not be withdrawn, pointing out that the milling companies in the Kingdom continue selling flour to bakeries for the same prices, according to the local Al-Hayat newspaper.
The Saudi Press Agency reported that the daily withdrawal rate for customers quotas is at normal levels.
Bread is considered to be the second most important food source for Saudis after rice, and is usually present at the dinner table in the Kingdom.
Saudi Arabia is the world’s top consuming nation of bread. The Kingdom relies heavily on imports to maintain a constant supply of wheat. By the end of 2016 the country had imported more than 3 million tons of wheat.
People in Saudi Arabia consume 235 grams of wheat, or slightly more than half a pound of wheat, cakes or other types of bread a day.
The Saudi government has not made any changes in the price of bread for 35 years despite the changes in the prices of energy and materials used in making bread, which increased about 300 percent. However, the policy has forced some bakery owners out of the profession.
In October 2016, the Saudi cabinet decided to impose fines and sanctions on wasting bread and flour products from bakeries and factories.
More than 1,000 bakeries in the eastern region presented a proposal to raise the prices at the end of last year in order to link them to the increase of prices of energy sources. However, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture repeatedly warned bakeries of raising prices or changing the size without a formal decision or order.
The domestic flour prices of the Saudi Grains Organization, brown and white, increased in 2015 at a rate of 14.96 percent for brown, and 14.02 percent for white flour.
According to the average prices of food commodities of the General Authority of Statistics, the kilogram price of local brown flour rose in December 2015 to SR 2.27, while the price in the same month of 2014 was about SR 1.97. The price per kilogram amounted to SR 2.24 in November 2015 and dropped from in December at a rate of 1.39 percent.
The rise in the price of flour in the domestic market coincided when the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) announced the decline in world wheat prices during 2015, which was affected by the abundance of global crops and increase of supply levels.
White pita bread (four loaves) prices settled at SR 1 only in 2015 and maintained this price between December 2014 and December 2015 without recording any change.
Bread sticks is among the most important types of bread after the pita bread (known as Arabic Bread) as it is one of the most popular and heavily traded in the Kingdom, and called “Samoli” among Saudis.
Saudi Agriculture Ministry won’t withdraw bread subsidies
Saudi Agriculture Ministry won’t withdraw bread subsidies
Najran’s camels are embedded in local culture and traditions
- Several distinct camel breeds are found in the region
- Animals permeate Arab consciousness, says expert
RIYADH: In Najran, camels are not only a vital livestock resource but also a cornerstone of local identity and tradition.
According to Hadi Benyan Al-Amer, head of Najran’s Camel Association, the region has several distinct camel breeds.
Principal among them is the Awarik, an ancient Arabian lineage linked to territories where arak trees flourish, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.
These light-colored, sparsely-haired camels possess remarkable resilience, and are prevalent across southern Arabia.
The Majahim are characterized by dark hues spanning black to brown, and excel in both milk yield and endurance.
The Asayil are prized for their sleek, lean physiques, and dominate in speed-based competitions.
Al-Amer said traditional water sources known as Odood, or traditional water wells and artesian wells, have sustained herders navigating the Empty Quarter’s grazing lands for generations.
These permanent water points, equipped with dedicated drinking basins for camels, showcase the animals’ extraordinary environmental resilience.
Among the principal wells accessible from Najran are Al-Minkhali, Abu Shadid, Hamra Nathil, Tamani, Umm Al-Wahat, and Khujaima.
Countless additional wells dot the Empty Quarter and adjacent territories, forming the backbone of camel owners’ far-reaching pastoral networks.
Dr. Hind bint Dawood Al-Shuqair of Najran University’s Arabic Language Department explained how camels have permeated Arab consciousness through legends and stories spanning thousands of years.
Representing endurance, power, and grace, they have become inseparable from Arab cultural identity.
Archaeological evidence at Al-Ukhdood, Mount Al-Tharwa and Hima, preserves through carvings and ancient artwork the deep bond between people and camels, Al-Shuqair said.
She drew attention to Saudi Arabia’s substantial investment in camel heritage, exemplified by proclaiming 2024 as the Year of the Camel.
This designation emphasizes their importance to national prosperity and cultural heritage while backing global initiatives to promote awareness of camels as valuable economic and cultural assets.
The Kingdom further demonstrates its commitment to protecting the animals through the annual King Abdulaziz Festival, the SPA reported.
