Al-Hajjana in Saudi Arabia

Al-Hajjana in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were the first guards of the borders of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the reign of the Founding King Abdulaziz Bin Abdulrahman Al Saud. They were formed in 1933 and were named so because they rode camels (Hijan in Arabic).

Al-Hajjana are considered a stage in the development of the National Guard and were revived as part of Saudi cultural heritage.

The history of Al-Hajjana goes back more than ninety years, as they were formed in 1933. They were named so because they rode camels (Hijan), which were their main means of transportation.

Al-Hajjana were among the most prominent stages of the Saudi Border Guard, contributing to the establishment of governance during the formation of the First Saudi State by monitoring borders and maintaining security from the southern Al-Rub' Al-Khali (Empty Quarter) desert to the northern Nafud desert.

Over the years, the sectors of the National Guard developed, adopting modern technologies in border monitoring and surveillance, and achieving progress in technical and human capabilities.

In 2022, the Saudi Council of Ministers approved the Camel Club’s organization of the Royal Hujjana Company, in coordination with the Presidency of the Royal Guard.

The establishment of the Royal Hajjana aims to reinforce the cultural heritage related to Al-Hajjana by participating in ceremonies to welcome guests of the King and the Crown Prince, taking part in national festivals, presenting heritage shows of the Hajjana, and representing Saudi Arabia in camel and dromedary festivals both inside and outside the country.

The Ministry of Interior, represented by the General Directorate of Public Security, launched Al-Hajjana Unit in celebration of Founding Day in 2024. The aim of launching the unit is to revive the Saudi heritage associated with camels, in conjunction with the Year of the Camel 2024, as well as to highlight the contribution of Al-Hajjana in maintaining border security during the establishment of the Saudi State. Al-Hajjana Unit of the Ministry of Interior operates alongside security patrols to help maintain security in Diriyah in Riyadh Province.