Under the auspices of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region Chairman of the Emirates Falconers’ Club (EFC), the International Hunting & Equestrian Exhibition - Abu Dhabi 2009 (ADIHEX) scheduled to take place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from 30th September until the 3rd of October 2009 will feature unique highlights.

“This year’s exhibition will be full of new and exciting features, especially HM Queen Elizabeth II’s Household Cavalry Musical Ride, which accepted the invitation of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) to perform in ADIHEX for the very first time in the Middle East,” said Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Director of ADIHEX in a press conference held Monday at ADACH.

“The Musical Ride’s participation underlines the very strong ties between Britain and Abu Dhabi and our shared knowledge and passion for horses. Part of the event’s strategy is to act as a bridge between cultures and traditions around the world. The Musical Ride’s performances in Abu Dhabi represent for us a significant milestone in the evolution of ADIHEX as a truly international event,” added Qubaisi.

Qubaisi highlighted the participation of ADACH and the Emirates Falconers Club in the Second International Falconry Festival which is held July 11-12 in Reading.

“We would also like to mention that the United Arab Emirates has recently hosted a workshop, organised by ADACH, on the preparation of the international file for registering Falconry at the UNESCO. The workshop was held in Abu Dhabi for two days during which a final version of the file was drafted after an extensive study and review of the files provided by the participating delegations in the run-up to its submission to the European Union in preparation to submit a comprehensive file to the UNESCO for the registration of Falconry History in the representative list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage,” Qubaisi emphasized.

“The area allocated to the bookings in ADIHEX has increased to 21,530 square meters compared to the 16,281 square meters in 2008, or an increase of 25%, as a result of the strong demand from exhibitors to take part in this year’s exhibition,” he said, emphasizing the role played by ADIHEX in the field of sustainable hunting, which aims to achieve a balance between the preservation of heritage and the protection of the environment. In addition, promoting the use of hybrid birds in captivity for falconry sport instead of the endangered wild falcons and pointing out the UAE efforts in the preservation of the natural environment, and intensifying hubara and falcon breeding programs.

“The Exhibition has also achieved a wide popular and universal standing. It has promoted the Emirate of Abu Dhabi as a unique and attractive point for visitors and exhibitors as the number of participations in the last edition (2008) reached 526 from 37 countries. The exhibition also witnessed a staggering influx of visitors which exceeded all expectations as the number of visitors surpassed the 95,000 mark during the four-day exhibition. Contracts worth millions of UAE dirhams were signed and the exhibition’s total revenues and sales were more than 85 million dirhams,” said Qubaisi.

ADIHEX will continue its marketing and promotional plan, and the Organising Committee will hold press conferences in Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, 16th, 17th and 18th August respectively, with the aim of attracting more participants and visitors to the Emirate of Abu Dhabi from the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Qubaisi thanked the Breeding Stables of HH Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Normandy-France, Sorouh, Abu Dhabi Sports Council for sponsoring the event and the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage for their support and for their ceaseless efforts in order to contribute to the continuing success of the International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (Abu Dhabi 2009) and invited the public to visit the exhibition and enjoy its various activities.

“For the first time in the Middle East, the renowned Musical Ride of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Household Cavalry will perform in Abu Dhabi,” said Lara Sawaya, Member of Organising Committee, and Head of the Equestrian Division.

“The Musical Ride performs at all the major ceremonial occasions in the UK and this will be a unique opportunity to see them here. Thirty-six men and their horses will be traveling to Abu Dhabi for eight special performances during ADIHEX 2009,” she added.

“Another highlight is the beauty contest for Purebred Arab horses (Horse Show) and some of the best horses, will be out to capture the hearts of one and all,” she stated.

Top local and international racecourses and stables will participate in ADIHEX, emphasised Sawaya, led by the Breeding Stables of HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan based in Normandy, France and counting Britain’s world famous race courses Newmarket and Ascot, Arab French Horse Association (AFAC), German Arabian Association (DRAV), Dutch Arabian Association, French Hunting Association, Russian Equiros Exhibition, Baden Baden Racecourse and Frankfurt Racecourse from Germany, International Equestrian Federation (FEI), Asian Equestrian Federation, Emirates Equestrian Federation, Dubai Equestrian Club, Al Aryam Stud, Al; Wathba Stables, Al Reef Stables, Al W’rsan Stables, Boutheib Stables, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club and Ghantoot Equestrian Club.

General Secretary of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Mohammed Al Mahmoud, said that “sponsoring ADIHEX is an opportunity to honor the equestrian and falconry traditions of our forefathers; and also falls under our strategy in endorsing the equestrian sector.”

Fahad Al Ketbi, Sorouh’s Chief Commercial Officer said “It is also with great pleasure that I can announce that Sorouh is proudly sponsoring the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition. This is the third consecutive year that Sorouh has had the privilege to play a key role in supporting an exhibition that is at the heart of the Emirati culture.”

ADIHEX is organised by the Emirates Falconers Club in collaboration with Turret Middle East, supported by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) and sponsored by the Breeding Stables of HH Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Normandy-France, Sorouh Real Estates and Abu Dhabi Sports Council.