Adihex 2014 bigger and busier than ever

Most products were introduced in an interactive manner at the hunting and equestrian exhibition in Abu Dhabi.— Supplied photo

Abu Dhabi — At 10pm on Saturday curtains were brought down on the12th edition of the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (Adihex) that saw the participation of 640 exhibitors from 48 countries.

From demonstrations on how to make a good knife or how to convince a horse to jump an obstacle, to breaking news from environmental officials, adoption of pets, archery competitions, live Emirati folklore, auctions and daily bird shows, this year’s Adihex is said to have been bigger and busier than ever.

The new Knowledge Zone, introduced for the first time at this year’s Adihex, was fully booked by companies, environmentalists, safari operators and weapon manufacturers everyday during the exhibition, to introduce to the public — in an interactive manner — their products, services and projects.

The last day of the exhibition has always been just as important to traders as the first, as this is the time when buyers hope to strike the best deal.

Whether looking for a falcon, a four-wheel drive lift kit, some high-quality camping gear, a new bike or even a boat, challenging price negotiations would take place all day long.

The concluding performance of the show came from Abu Dhabi Folklore Dance Group by Cultural Programmes and Heritage Festivals Committee - Abu Dhabi. Despite the Ebola outbreak in African countries, several African hunting safari companies set up stand at Adihex this year, all promising complete safety to potential clients.

“This is the first time we are exhibiting at Adihex,” said Derek MacKinnon, managing director of Hoodia Hunting Ranch and Safaris in Namibia. “We though that if we get to speak with 10 people, our participation would be worthwhile, but we got 18 potential clients in the first day alone,” he told Khaleej Times.

A five-day hunting trip in Namibia, with lodging and all hunting equipment and services included, starts from $3000. The cost would go up depending on the type of game the hunters want to participate.

“Each client is only allowed to have two trophies from each species he hunts. For example, he may shoot as many lions as he wants, but he can only have two lion trophies,” explained MacKinnon.

Hoodia offers all plain game - zebra, Oryx, gazelle - as well as the “big five” game, lions included. The only one off the list seems to be the rhinoceros, which is an endangered species, although, according to MacKinnon, if you get a special permit, you can still hunt one. Hunting safari operators like Hoodia supplement their profits by selling the meat of the hunted in the game.

“We also donate some of the meat to a local school we support,” he said. The Germany-funded school is for orphan kids, and has 100 students in the age group of 7 to 16.

“We take every hunting group for a visit to the school and we encourage them to donate,” mentioned MacKinnon. Most of Hoodia’s guests are American and European hunters, but MacKinnon now believes there is a lot of potential from the Middle East as well.

silvia@khaleejtimes.com