ADAFSA Reference Centre For Camel Diseases Enhances UAE's Global Leadership In Camel Health Research

World Camel Day on 22 June 2025 highlights the historical, economic, and cultural importance of camels, especially in the Middle East. This event aligns with global initiatives to improve camel veterinary care and biosecurity. The UAE has taken a leading role through the ADAFSA Reference Centre for Camel Diseases, recognised by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) in May 2022 as the first dedicated centre for camel health.

The ADAFSA Reference Centre has achieved significant milestones, including developing around 200 advanced laboratory tests and processing over 300,000 camel samples. It has provided more than one million diagnostic services, showcasing its capability to manage disease outbreaks. The Centre's experts have sequenced the whole genome of 50 pathogens to identify virulent strains, aiding targeted disease control measures.

The UAE's leadership in camel health is further demonstrated by the establishment of a biobank that stores over one million biological specimens. This biobank supports research on diagnostic reagents and vaccines while safeguarding genetic diversity. It also aids in future disease preparedness research, reinforcing the UAE’s position in camel disease research globally.

In a significant discovery, experts at the Centre were the first to detect the Wesselsbron virus in Ethiopian camels. This breakthrough may explain mysterious camel deaths over two decades. These findings were presented at the 26th African Regional Conference of WOAH, enhancing the Centre’s reputation in epidemiological diagnostics and global biosecurity.

The Centre leads regional capacity-building initiatives by offering annual proficiency testing programmes aligned with ISO/IEC 17025 standards. These involve 33 laboratories from countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Sudan, Jordan, Syria, and Italy. Additionally, it has organised over 20 training workshops for veterinarians and researchers.

ADAFSA has developed CAMNET to enhance collaboration across Gulf countries and beyond. CAMNET has trained over 500 personnel to improve veterinary laboratory quality. Educational kits covering various aspects of veterinary science have been distributed to member countries to support education and field diagnostics.

Scientific Contributions and Global Partnerships

The Centre has published over 30 papers in peer-reviewed journals and issued an atlas on camel diseases. It manages a biobank of resistant microbial isolates to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The Centre participates in global partnerships like the UAE–UK Biosecurity Alliance to advance global health efforts.

Director Asma Abdi Mohamed emphasised that the Reference Centre realises UAE leadership’s vision to preserve cultural heritage while bolstering food security through advanced science. "We are proud that the UAE is the first nation in the world to host a WOAH‑accredited centre dedicated to camel diseases," she stated.

Advanced Diagnostic Capabilities

The Centre is equipped with state-of-the-art technologies for early detection of infectious agents. It provides diagnostic advisory services to GCC countries and others involved in camel husbandry. Its infrastructure supports early identification of novel pathogens, strengthening national biosecurity systems.

The UAE took initiative during meetings held in Abu Dhabi and Italy between 2014-2015 to establish a regional centre specialising in camel diseases. This aimed at bridging knowledge gaps and enhancing diagnostic capabilities. In May 2022, these efforts led to official recognition by WOAH as a specialised centre headquartered in Abu Dhabi.

The ADAFSA Reference Centre continues its pivotal role underlining its commitment towards sustainable development goals through strategic partnerships and scientific advancements.

With inputs from WAM