Military and Strategic Journal
Issued by the Directorate of Morale Guidance at the General Command of the Armed Forces
United Arab Emirates
Founded in August 1971

2022-11-01

ADIHEX 2022 Turns Out to be Bigger and Busier

The 19th edition of the International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX), held under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, and Chairman of the Emirates Falconers’ Club, from September 26 to October 2, turned out to be bigger and busier than ever. 
 
The 2022 edition of the annual event was attended by thousands of fans of heritage sports, foremost of which are falconry, equestrian, archery, land and sea hunting, and lovers of trips, camping and outdoor activities.
Over the course of a week, the audience interacted with more than 150 live activities, workshops, performances, and interesting edutainment events, including innovative competitions, and traditional and live sports performances.
This year’s edition hosted 900 exhibitors from 59 countries, under the theme “Sustainability and Heritage...A Reborn Aspiration.”
 
Active Saudi Participation 
As a part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to raise awareness about sustainable hunting, the ethics of falconry, the promotion and preservation of environment and cultural heritage, many official entities and organisations and private Saudi companies participated in the exhibition.
They had an opportunity to showcase their objectives and strategies, launch and promote their products regionally and internationally, in addition to strengthening their presence, making deals and keeping abreast of everything new and modern in the world of falconry, hunting and equestrian.
 
Since 2003, many companies in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States have been actively participating in this event, in the framework of a common interest in preserving authentic heritage values and ensuring the sustainable use of wildlife resources.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia led the participation in ADIHEX 2022 by  three key nature reserves, with the “King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Natural Reserve” at the forefront, which is the largest nature reserve in Saudi Arabia. 
 
The Reserve consists of three primary conservation areas which are Tubaiq Reserve, Khunfah Reserve, and Harrat Reserve. The reserve has become an attractive Saudi destination attractive destination locally, regionally and internationally, especially since it has more than 14 diverse geographical formations that include craters, sand dunes, valleys, mountains and high altitudes.
 
Another outstanding participant was the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority (KARNR), which was established in 2018 with the aim of conserving plant and animal species. The reserve also includes the Rawdat Tanahat, Al-Khafs, and their adjacent areas. Hunting, pollution, firewood-gathering, and overgrazing are prohibited in the reserve in order to preserve and increase the vegetation cover and restore the biodiversity of endemic, fragile and endangered species.
 
The Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve (ITBA) from Saudi Arabia also participated in the “Preservation of the Environment and Cultural Heritage” sector. It is a global reserve and a unique Eco-tourism destination due to its rich heritage and beautiful landscape. 
 
Most Expensive Falcon 
On the sixth day, the most expensive falcon in the exhibition’s history, a Pure Gyr American ultra-white, was auctioned for AED 1,010,000 (about US$275,000).
The competitive falconry auction was one of the event’s most well-liked attractions by the public. The unique auction brought in falcon owners, falcon farms, falconers from the UAE and all over the world, as well as VIPs and businesspeople interested in falconry.


 
Women Power
The 19th edition of ADIHEX, witnessed a strong presence of women among the visitors.
There was significant demand among girls and women to buy licensed hunting weapons.
Many female falconers and experts in the world of falconry and sustainable hunting attended seminars and workshops. 
 
The role of women was  highlighted through multiple participations under the supervision of the competent authorities, such as the Emirates Falconers’ Club, the Mohammed bin Zayed Falconry and Desert Physiognomy School, the European Foundation for Falconry & Conservation, International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC) and the European Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FACE). 
Women also participated in the shows of the birds of prey at Al Ain Zoo. The Japanese pavilion celebrated once again the role of women in falconry with the participation of expert Japanese female falconers.
 
In the field of equestrian, ADIHEX included multiple participation of female horse riders from the UAE and various countries.
A seminar on the “Sustainability Platform: Mechanism of Horse Registration Services at the Emirates Arabian Horse Association (EAHA) was presented by Lola Al Mansouri. 
Researcher Sariya Al-Marzouq presented a lecture on the genetics of horses, and the most important qualities of Arabian horses from an economic point of view, including the standards of stamina, performance and appearance, which are related to the features and qualities of horse beauty. 
 
Tina Al Qubaisi, a member of the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy and the Dhabian Equestrian Club, conducted a workshop on the “Connect with Nature, Connect with Animals” platform titled “Equestrian Sports Training.” 

ORYX Custom Knives
Abdullah Al Ahmed, an Emirati knife maker, exhibited Oryx Custom Knives. His handmade knives take three weeks to make, and the logo for the knife was patterned after the Arabian Oryx, an important important representation of the UAE’s beautiful natural and cultural heritage.  
The knife has historically been one of the most significant tools used by humans throughout history and is still a vital tool for the home, for hunting, and for outdoor pursuits. Because of this, the maker of these unique pieces decided to use straightforward, contemporary designs inspired by the local landscape and made these with the best possible materials.
 
Shotgun Sisters
It’s not the first time the Fausti sisters exhibited at ADIHEX. Fausti, an Italian designer firearms manufacturer, exhibited this year’s limited unique edition shotguns with the intention of registering the brand name with a GCC client.
Fausti has been manufacturing hunting and competition shotguns since 1948. Fausti’s over-under and side-by-side guns are designed to meet the specific needs of very demanding hunters and shooters, at the same time they are collector pieces whose technical and aesthetic features represent a milestone in time.
The company, founded by Cavalier Stefano Fausti, is now run by his three daughters Elena, Giovanna and Barbara. The pride of their commitment has placed the Fausti brand in the small pantheon of modern fine firearm manufacturers.


 
Archery Activities
ADIHEX offered visitors the opportunity to participate in archery activities with bow and arrows.
Co-founders Mahmoud Qalyoubi and Alperen Alkan of Mumluka Archery drew a large number of attendees to their stand, particularly youngsters, and provided advice on how to improve one’s skills in the sport of archery to those who stopped by. 
The company opened its Türkiye Equestrian School in 2021, and since then has provided tourists from 18 different countries with the opportunity to participate in professional level Horseback Archery classes. Since 2017, the company has been supplying products to 78 different nations across the world. 
 
Japanese Connection
In celebration of 50 years of friendship between the UAE and Japan, JODCO INPEX Group presented several activities reflecting the true essence of the Japanese culture, which included falconry shows, traditional Japanese tea ceremonies, falconry equipment making, artworks depicting Japanese and Emirati heritage, as well as many musical and art performances. 
Samurai swordsmiths took part in the exhibition, and children had a chance to experience the taste of falcon and horse-shaped candy, prepared by an expert candy maker.
 
Majid Ali Al Mansouri, Chairman of the Higher Organising Committee of ADIHEX, President of IAF and Secretary General of the Emirates Falconers’ Club, emphasised the importance of keeping falconry alive by interacting with falconers from other cultures, and stated that the barriers of language and culture have never been an issue in that regard. “Falconry is a universal sport that gives falconers tremendous feelings of joy and happiness regardless of where they are in the world. Falconers have a lot in common. The charm and beauty of this sport brings us closer together.”


 
Shooting Sports Initiative
CARACAL, a leading small arms manufacturer and entity within EDGE, one of the top 25 advanced technology and defence groups in the world, signed an initiative with International Golden Group (IGG) and Al Forsan Holding Group, to promote and develop local shooting sports hobbyists. 
 
The initiative was signed with a framework for the three companies to cooperate in encouraging citizens to develop and hone their skills in the sport of shooting. The initiative was signed by CARACAL CEO Hamad Alameri, IGG Deputy CEO Khalifa Al Balushi and Sultan Al Kaabi on behalf of Al Forsan Holding Group CEO. 
 
The Al Forsan International Sports Resort will facilitate the training as well as provide an encouraging environment for amateur shooters.  
The initiative is aimed at creating strategic partnerships with government institutions to form and support shooting teams representing the UAE at local, regional and international shooting events and forums. 
Pistol, rifle and hunting firearm training will be provided at the Al Forsan International Sports Resort with various shooting ranges and fields, in addition to educating young enthusiasts on firearm safety and security procedures.
 
Houbara Conservation
The International Fund for Houbara Conservation (IFHC), the global leader in pre-emptive species conservation, this year, marked the 40th anniversary of the first hatch of captive-bred houbara chick in the UAE. The fund celebrated the occasion during its 11th year of participation in ADIHEX.
 
The conservation programme fulfils the vision of the UAE’s founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, in ensuring the sustained population of two types of houbara bustards — North African and Asian houbara, in the wild that are emblematic of the Arab culture. The houbara bustards are considered vulnerable on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) red list of threatened species.
 
Mohammed Al Baidani, Director General, International Fund for Houbara Conservation, said: “Our pioneering work at IFHC has paid off as we forge ahead in pushing the boundaries of conservation through continuous work in genetics and captive breeding. From heeding the call of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan to recognising the need to save the houbara, our collective work has improved the species’ status from endangered to vulnerable on the IUCN red list. We have reached significant milestones in raising awareness on houbara.”
As part of the celebration, IFHC had announced the release of 549,816 houbara bustards to 17 countries since 1998. 
Globally, a total of 706,284 houbara bustards have been bred in captivity since 1996 with UAE as the top contributor producing 340,527.
 
Successful Edition
Raffle draws, cars, bikes, flight tickets, camping equipment and a lot more were part of the more
than 80 prizes during the seven amazing days of the 19th edition.
The winning stands were rewarded and raffles were held during the closing ceremony of the hugely
successful edition.
 
 ‘Meet You in 2023’.
 

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