Camel husbandry is a central pillar of Saudi Arabia's cultural heritage and an essential resource for national food security. Even though it possesses nutritional benefits and a reduced ecological footprint, global and domestic consumption of camel meat is lower than that of other meat types. To this end, the study addresses the factors impacting consumer preferences for camel meat in Saudi Arabia, aiming to identify potential avenues for market expansion. Primary data were collected from 662 non-vegetarian consumers via an online survey and analyzed utilizing an ordered probit model. The results highlight that camel meat is less preferred than lamb, chicken, and fish, even though it is more preferred than beef, particularly among older-aged groups. Gender and age emerge as pivotal determinants of preferences, with males and older-aged consumers indicating a substantially stronger preference for camel meat. Even though consumers prioritize product quality, freshness, and meat source, they face notable market challenges, including high prices, inadequate quality assurance, and limited product options. Thus, the study suggests that targeted promotional strategies, enhanced market infrastructure, and the development and optimization of processed camel meat products are pivotal to enhancing consumer acceptance, particularly among women and the youth. This enhanced consumer acceptance can help fully realize the sector's potential in bolstering Saudi Arabia's food security and economic diversification goals.
Alagsam et al. (Tue,) studied this question.