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2023-06-04

ADIHEX 2023 to Honour Tradition, Embrace Sustainability

Preparations for the 20th edition of the Abu Dhabi International Hunting & Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX) are in full swing, as organisers gear up for yet another successful event. Scheduled to take place from August 23-29, 2023, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), this year’s theme is “Sustainability and Heritage... A Reborn Aspiration.”

The event is being 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.

Successful Edition

The 19th edition of ADIHEX achieved a qualitative leap and was described as the largest and most amazing edition in its history, as it was attended by over 900 exhibitors and brands from 58 countries, with direct sales exceeding AED 65 million.

The number of visitors exceeded expectations as over the seven days ADIHEX attracted more than 150,000 visitors from different coun-tries, who came to explore and obtain the latest products and innovations presented by exhibitors in the 11 sectors of the event, and enjoy the atmosphere of live performances, competitions and learning, as well as the cultural and heritage events.

At the previous edition, participants including exhibitors, sponsors, and supporters, unanimously recognised the importance of attending this special event. They reported achieving record sales, exchanging ideas, meeting partners and customers, making strong deals, and building commercial relations between distributors and dealers.

Buyers and visitors appreciated the exhibition’s global connect, attraction to dozens of countries and hundreds of pavilions, diversity of displayed products and innovations, unique offers, and the profitable business atmosphere. Exhibitors achieved significant direct sales.

127 Speakers

The previous edition of ADIHEX hosted 127 speakers who presented their techniques, skills and professional experience through 134 specialised workshops. These workshops were categorised into four educational platforms: Sustainability, outdoor adventures, arts and crafts, and connection with nature. The workshops represented a source of knowledge, awareness and a means for business success and development.

The exhibition showcased over 150 live performances featuring birds of prey, salukis, and police dogs, as well as captivating heritage and sports shows, all of which contributed to the mega event’s overall appeal.

A diverse range of educational activities, innovative artistic and cultural competitions, and scientific events attracted hundreds of compet-itors. The auctions of camels, falcons, and horses offered an opportunity to get acquainted closely with some of the most important pil-lars of rich Emirati and Arab heritage and authentic traditions.

In collaboration with UNESCO, the International Association for Falconry and Conservation of Birds of Prey, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature, ADIHEX organised a conference entitled “The Significance of Indigenous People and Local Communities in Link-ing Intangible Cultural Heritage and Wildlife Conservation.” The idea was to explore the role of indigenous people and local communities in preserving cultural heritage while promoting wildlife conservation.

A variety of B2B initiatives had been launched to support Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups, with the aim of pro-moting their brands and ensuring their success. Extensive marketing and promotional campaigns are used to enhance their participation in professional commercial meetings with buyers and exhibitors.

The exhibition has gained a strong reputation among professionals, enthusiasts, and amateurs of all kinds of hunting sports.

Unique Aspect

ADIHEX is the only event in the UAE, which allows its visitors to buy hunting and shooting weapons whose manufacturers, experts and designers compete to professionally offer the best products to hunters and shooters.

In each new edition, remarkable and rare innovations emerge in the world of hunting and shooting, due to the art, quality, durability, and safety they offer.

The Higher Organising Committee of ADIHEX has launched the guidelines for buying and selling hunting weapons on the event’s web-site, as sales are subject to terms, conditions and procedures that are clearly presented to the relevant exhibitors to ensure compli-ance.

Local and international companies and institutions wishing to participate in the “Hunting and Shooting Equipment” sector are required to obtain a participation permit from Weapons and Hazardous Substances Office and the Ministry of Interior of the UAE to complete their bookings at ADIHEX.

Moreover, the permit must include a copy of the company’s licence issued from the competent licensing authorities, whether in the UAE or other countries. It is important to specify the type of participation, whether it is for display only or for the purpose of selling, and ad-here to the approved list of materials that should be shipped prior to a specific period of launching the event.

Additionally, all regulations, instructions, and approved security and safety measures must be complied with.

Displaying the hunting weapons at ADIHEX is subject to several rules and regulations, as there should be no loose weapons on the stands or counters and all weapons must be permanently tethered, no live ammunition or explosives will be exhibited on the stands except models, dummy, inert or live cutaways in order to explain the innovative details of the manufacturing process.

Online Programmes

The UAE Ministry of Interior and Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters have developed online programmes for licensing the acquisition of hunting weapons, expediting the procedures for obtaining them, and coordinating with licensing authorities in the GCC and other countries.

Each UAE citizen over the age of 21 years is granted the opportunity to acquire a maximum of three weapons. Other nationalities are al-lowed to purchase hunting weapons, as long as a no-objection letter is issued from the competent authority in their country, in which the number and types of weapons allowed are clarified Weapons permitted to be purchased at ADIHEX include hunting rifles, pistols up to 9mm, heritage swords and daggers, hunting knives, wooden and plastic archery units, and air guns of less than eight joules which do not require a licence.

Those who are under the legal age may purchase weapons but subject to the consent of the parent or guardian. Air guns that exceed eight joules are showcased for sale but require prior permit as per the applicable regulations, and they are deducted from the individual’s share in the number of weapons allowed to be purchased.

Essential Products

The Hunting and Shooting Sports Guns and Equipment sector is growing annually in response to the desire of the event’s audience, where they can get all the essential products to practice their favourite hunting hobby.

The exhibitors provide many notable products in the sector, including hunting guns, shotguns, rifles, and compact rifles, airguns, paintball guns, hunting ammunition, decorative showcase rifles, heritage daggers and weapons, light beam training guns, bows and arrows, aim-ing devices, shooting accessories, gun stocks, gun cleaning kits, gun safety and transport, gun cupboards/safety storage, transport cases, rifle covers, binoculars, rifle scopes, spotting scopes, telescopes and iron sights.

This also includes dioptre optics (a unit of optical measurement that expresses the refractive power of a lens or prism), target tracking ray tools, simulators, rangefinders, distance and night vision tools, cleaning equipment and accessories, cameras, digital scoping, riflescopes, laser sights and folding knives.

The Higher Organising Committee is leaving no stone unturned in their preparations to continue the event’s excellence and distinction in upcoming editions. The upcoming ADIHEX is expected to deliver an unforgettable experience for participants and visitors alike.

Reference Text/Photo: www.adihex.com

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