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2021-11-03

ADIHEX Shines Spotlight on Heritage, Sustainability

Through a wide range of events, activities and attractions, the recently-concluded Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX) 2021 powerfully highlighted the UAE’s authentic heritage and traditions and proved to be a perfect platform for cultural exchange.

Adding a special tinge to the 18th edition was the fact that it coincided with the Golden Jubilee of the nation and was hosted on an area 50,000 square metres – the largest area in the event’s history. Also, the largest exhibition of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region took place over seven successive days for the first time.

The new edition was organised under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of the Emirates Falconers’ Club, from September 27 to October 3, 2021 under the theme “Sustainability and Heritage…A Reborn Aspiration.”

It was held under the official sponsorship of the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi, the International Fund for Houbara Conservation and the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, in addition to the sector sponsor Bynuna Military & Hunting Equipment Trading LLC and the feature sponsors Smart Design LLC, Al Fares International Tents and Dhabian Equestrian Club, as well as ARB- Emirates as the branding automotive partner.

Majid Ali Al Mansouri, Chairman of the Higher Organising Committee of ADIHEX and Secretary General of the Emirates Falconers’ Club, stressed that ADIHEX was not only limited to being a forum for the manufacturers of hunting equipment and hunting guns, the fans of Safari and marine trips, and the lovers of falconry and equestrian but also hosted many international participations.

Its halls, corners and lobbies were embellished with paintings, sculptures, photographs and craft that vibe with the event.

ADIHEX featured 319 local exhibitors; as well as 32 governmental and official entities, and over 20 local and international falconry clubs, associations and institutions, across 11 sections.

The exhibition’s popularity could be gauged by the fact that its past editions witnessed a total of over 1.6 million visitors, including over 110,000 visitors from 120 nationalities in the 2019 edition, in addition to being covered by over 600 media professionals annually in more than 12 languages.

This year too, it attracted thousands of falconers, hunting and equestrian enthusiasts, end users, traders, major buyers, VVIPS and dignitaries from around the world.

The richness and comprehensiveness of ADIHEX was well represented through 11 different sectors, including arts and crafts, equestrian, falconry, hunting and safari trips, hunting and camping equipment, hunting weapons, projects to enhance and preserve cultural heritage, outdoor recreational vehicles and equipment, veterinary products and services, fishing and marine sports equipment, and professional media.

‘Arts and Crafts’ Sector

A total of 125 Emirati, Arab and International artists displayed their creations.

The Arts and Crafts sector showcased the art pieces made by talented Emirati, Arab and foreign artists and provided a genuine opportunity for them to connect with art enthusiasts who were fond of arts related to cultural heritage and human civilisation.

The show saw the participation of 80 painters, visual artists and craftsmen from the UAE, various Arab countries and different parts of the world, exhibiting in their stands and pavilions in the arts and crafts sector.

Several women artists also enthusiastically participated for the first time at the exhibition.

Amani Mohammad, an artist from the UAE representing Pencil Lab Inks, displayed two of her paintings and was excited to see her work as it was her first exhibition.

Her painting “Re: Visions” showcased Late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s hand drawing in the sand with a background simulation of more extraordinary things to come with a simple beginning. The second painting, “Equine Equinox,” marked a play on words describing the horses separating light and dark clouds.

EAD’s Innovative Portal

The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) launched an innovative web portal and mobile phone application, Daleelah, the region’s first for the preservation of Abu Dhabi’s cultural and natural heritage. The app was launched during the second day of ADIHEX.

Abu Dhabi has a rich, natural, and cultural heritage that needs to be preserved for current and future generations. To achieve this, EAD has compiled all the relevant information and has made it accessible through a dedicated website portal and mobile phone application. As part of individual efforts, several entities had captured the heritage of Abu Dhabi, making the information available in one place for users who wish to access it.

Daleelah, which in Arabic means the guide who points to the right path, is a one-stop-shop where information related to thousands of cultural and heritage sites, located around islands, can be easily researched, and identified under one umbrella – either from the portal or via the mobile phone application.

New Coaching Programme

In a unique method of human development coaching, Monica Kubik, a German national who has been living in Dubai since 2006, together with a team of other facilitators offered private and corporate sessions in Horse Guided Empowerment during the show.

Working with horses in coaching and therapy offers a sustainable, new way of income for retired or rehabilitated horses, a topic which was discussed during a conference by Yasmin Sayyed, Founder of Ride to Rescue.

In this new modality focused on mental health, coaching takes place mostly from the ground, not mounted on the horse, and with a group of free roaming horses who can choose to interact or not. It is hence suitable for clients who have no prior horse experience or are slightly nervous around these big animals.

Designer Firearm

There was focus on traditional Emirati activities such as falconry and equestrianism; visitors were able to attend equestrian shows, buy equipment and art and learn about Emirati heritage and crafts.

ADIHEX provided an excellent platform for several international exhibitors, such as Fausti, an Italian based company. The firearms company founded by Cavalier Stefano Fausti is now run by his three daughters Elena, Giovanna, and Barbara.

Fausti has been manufacturing hunting and competition shotguns since 1948. The “gun sisters,” as they are known, took over the company management after their father retired in the early 1990s.

Hunting Guns

Bynuna Military & Hunting Equipment Trading LLC, the prestigious Emirati company in the field of hunting, outdoor shooting and trading of ammunitions, hunting guns, and relevant accessories, participated in the Hunting Guns sector.

Bynuna offered products and equipment for hunting and shooting enthusiasts in the UAE, having excellent commercial networks with leading weaponry manufacturers from around the world, mainly in the United States and UK.

The company became the favourite one-stop-shop destination for enthusiasts in this sector and continued to successfully offer its services to fans of these exciting sports in the UAE and the region.

Saeed Al Ghfeli, General Manager of Bynuna Military & Hunting Equipment Trading LLC stated that the company had been participating in ADIHEX since 2012, and being in the 2021 edition represented its ninth consecutive participation.

He continued, “We witnessed an increase of about 15 to 25 per cent in the number of our visitors and sales, in addition to making deals during ADIHEX.”

MP3, established in 2004, was another reputed Emirati company from the hunting guns sector that participated in ADIHEX. MP3 specialised in innovating and providing best military devices, equipment, and hunting guns.

From Kuwait, Al Khudary for Hunting Equipment, participated for the first time in the Hunting Guns sector, exhibiting hunting rifles and their accessories.

Participating again from Kuwait was Rammai Company for Weapons & Ammunitions the authorised agent in the Arabian Gulf for leading Italian and European brands such as, Beretta and Benelli for hunting rifles, Fiocchi and Nobel Sport for Ammunitions.

Fausti, was presented again in the Hunting Guns sector, as it has always been since the first edition of ADIHEX in 2003.

‘The Game Fair’

Gemma Payne, Head of Marketing for The Game Fair, expressed her happiness about participating in ADIHEX. “We were looking forward to growing our partnership with ADIHEX and invited British companies to participate in the exhibition with the support of the British Government,” stated Gemma.

She termed the response as “terrific,” adding companies were happy to be part of this year’s exhibition.

Arabian Falconry

Nicola Dixon, who represented The Mohamed Bin Zayed Falconry Desert Physiognomy School, Al Ain, conducted a series of online workshops and sessions for Abu Dhabi and Magnolia school students during ADIHEX. She presented a session on “Traditional Arabian Falconry in the UAE.”

Students of various age groups enthusiastically participated in the session. The spotlight was about the importance of the falcons and Falconry in Arabian tradition, sustainable Falconry, and some online games related to heritage.

Nicola said, “Mongolia schools were amazed to attend the session and hence we added several such online sessions.”

The International Association for Falconry and Conservation of Birds of Prey (IAF) has 110 associations from 90 countries and more than 75,000 falconers worldwide.

“Falconry around the world” by IAF was a one-stop pavilion in ADIHEX to know where to explore the channels of European and Latin American falconers and interact more with participating falconers and learn about their culture and heritage in Falconry.

“Women in Falconry” was the main topic during a conference at ADIHEX, which was organised in cooperation with UNESCO and organised by the Emirates Falconers’ Club (EFC) and the IAF.

Bahrain’s Participation

The Bahrain Inherited Traditional Sports Committee (BITSC) participated for the first time at ADIHEX 2021 reflecting the deep and warm relations between the UAE and Bahrain.

The established and developed companies and official institutions from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have been actively participating in ADIHEX since 2004 as part of a shared interest in preserving the authentic values of Arab heritage and ensuring the sustainable use of wildlife resources.

Tareq Juma Salem, Director of Public Relations for BITSC, said: “The people of the GCC have been known for their passion for falconry, equestrian, saluki, and camel racing which form the common cultural heritage. We were here in ADIHEX for the first time and amazed by UAE’s hospitality.”

B360 Watch, the new exhibitor

Feras al Hussni, Managing Director of B360 Watch, a new exhibitor, said, “We create exceptional luxurious watches with unique hand-painted designs that tell stories. As an exhibitor, this was an opportunity to expand business internationally, garner extensive international media coverage.”

“We received several inquiries about Equusir Best Box, the innovative product from Equusir that maintains the horse’s physical health in the long term and sustainably increases sporting performance. ADIHEX was the right place to meet the potential buyers, and easy to promote our brand to the global audience,” revealed Dalia Qaragholi, its sales representative.

Japanese Connection

Japanese traditional falconry aimed at enhancing the cordial relationship by building a bridge for cultural exchange between the UAE and Japan.

Tomomi Yoshida, the representative of the Japanese Pavilion, said: “ADIHEX is an excellent platform to connect and showcase our culture to UAE visitors. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our falconers were unable to participate this time. To sustain our traditional culture, we were carrying out various activities like Yabusame (Horseback Archery), Chado (Tradition of Tea), Wadiko (Drums), Koto & Nikon (Harps), Judo”.

Key Platform

In the right words of Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan: “ADIHEX has become a key platform for promoting awareness on the importance of preserving heritage, especially among the youth.”

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