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Over 800 falconers flock to Abu Dhabi for 2-day festival

Since falcons are still an endangered species, only captive bred birds are allowed into the UAE, and no exceptions will be made for the festival.

Photo: WAM

Abu Dhabi: Several hundred falconers have already gathered among the mighty dunes of Liwa in preparation for the second International Festival of Falconry, taking place this December 7-13.

“We are not staying in a hotel, we are camping in the desert, with the falcons,” said Joe Oliver, a Welsh falconer, who arrived here with her gyr-peregrine falcon.

“We arrived a week early to source all the falcons and other birds of prey brought by several hundred people taking part in the festival, and also to get the birds used to the arena,” she told Khaleej Times.

After Al Ain in 2011, this is the second International Festival of Falconry taking place in the UAE.

It was largely due to the efforts of Mohammed Khalaf Al Mazrouei — who passed away this November — as cultural advisor to the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and as the man behind most heritage activities and projects in Abu Dhabi, that falconry earned its place on UNESCO’s heritage safeguarding list and, as a result, falconry festivals are now being organised here.

Before announcing the festival details, a tribute was made to Mohammed Khalaf Al Mazrouei by Majid Al Mansouri, executive director of the Emirates Falconers Club, organiser of the festival alongside the Cultural Programmes and Heritage Festivals Committee (CPHFC).

“We remain committed to ensure the sustainability of deep rooted falconry traditions that represent one of the most significant pillars of our national heritage,” said Al Mansouri.

This time the festival has attracted the participation of 800 falconers from 80 countries, many of whom are already here, Al Mansouri said.

Festival in two parts

The festival is split into two parts. On December 7-10, the falconers will be in the desert behind Hameem village of Liwa oasis, and on December 11-13, the festival will move to the grounds of Al Forsan Sport Club in Khalifa City (Abu Dhabi).

In Liwa, the festival is open to participants only, no public access, but there will be TV programmes broadcasting some of the action.

Mongols, Kazaks, Pakistanis, English, Americans and Romanians will train and hunt alongside Saudis, Yemenis and Emiratis in the desert.

“We will have traditional falcon hunting on horseback and camels,” said Abdullah Al Qubaisi, director of projects management at CPHFC.

Once in Abu Dhabi, the festival will be opened to the public, and there will be plenty to enjoy, such as traditional tents from Central Asia to South America, traditional dresses and over a thousand birds of prey, from small hawks to majestic eagles and all species of falcons.

Since falcons are still an endangered species, only captive bred birds are allowed into the UAE, and no exceptions will be made for the festival.

A souq, cafes, a ladies majlis and a family area will be set up at Al Forsan, as well as an arena for daily national and international falconry and other birds shows.

Alongside the festival, the International Falconry Conference is taking place with workshops both in Liwa and Abu Dhabi. Further details are available on www.falconryfestival.ae.

silvia@khaleejtimes.com