The Oman authorities are considering a regulatory scheme that will make it compulsory to tie reflective strips on free-range camels to reduce the danger of fatal accidents occurring due to traffic crashes on unlit road networks.
This programme is being introduced by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources (MoAFWR). Issues of traffic safety arise particularly during the Khareef season in Dhofar governorate due to foggy weather conditions and higher vehicular traffic, causing greater risk of crashes on rural roads. As per the rules, the camel owner needs to attach reflected bands around the neck, legs, harness or saddle of the camel.
Official figures from the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) highlight the severe risks associated with stray livestock on the nation’s roads. In 2022, Oman recorded 57 vehicle crashes caused by collisions with loose camels, resulting in 17 deaths and 58 serious injuries. This marked a 39 per cent surge in fatalities compared to the previous year, when 11 people were killed and 45 injured in similar incidents. The Dhofar Governorate remains particularly affected, logging roughly 20 vehicular crashes involving stray livestock each year.
The persistence of camel-related traffic incidents continues to prompt urgent public safety measures across multiple regions. In March 2025, three Omani citizens died in separate vehicular collisions involving stray camels in Al Duqm, located within Al Wusta Governorate, and Ibra in Al Sharqiyah North Governorate. Later that year in September 2025, a patrol collision in Maqshan, Dhofar, claimed the lives of two Royal Oman Police officers and injured two others. Officials note that while driver fatigue and speeding contribute to highway risks, sudden livestock movements on pitch-black roads remain exceptionally hazardous.
The ministry’s Animal Welfare Department is preparing guidance on safe, non-invasive reflectors to ensure compliance without harming the animals. Local authorities across other regions, including Al Sharqiyah South Governorate, have launched parallel public awareness drives urging livestock owners to utilize secure enclosures, implement visual identification tags, and deploy reflective straps. If enacted nationwide, the mandatory reflector policy will establish stricter accountability for owners while bolstering overall transportation safety across the Sultanate.
