Saudi Arabia bans foreign camels from grazing, as war on Qatar livestock continues

Saudi Arabia has banned foreign shepherds from grazing livestock on its territory after a blockade on Qatar led to the deaths of hundreds of stranded camels last year.

Camels and sheep from neighbouring countries are banned from entering Saudi Arabia for five years, the official Saudi Press Agency announced on Monday.

"The ban step stems from a royal order supporting the kingdom's Vision 2030 in order to maintain the vital resources and efforts in preserving the environment," the statement said.

The move comes over a year after a Saudi-led blockade on Doha led to thousands of stranded camels owned by Qataris being deported back home through Kuwait - in a costly repatriation process.

Saudi Arabia and its allies launched a blockade on Qatar in June 2017, sealing Qatar's only land border with Riyadh.

The border closure led to 22,000 camels and other livestock being effectively taken hostage by Saudi authorities with their Qatari owners banned from giving fodder and water to the animals.

Hundreds of the animals perished at the border after they were unable to reach water or food stocks in time.

Qatari shepherds have long rented pastures in neighbouring Saudi Arabia to graze their livestock because of Doha's limited pasturing space.

Saudi Arabia has expressed interest in digging a canal to separate Qatar from the mainland and turn it into an island - a move that would further endanger local livestock.