Let the hunting games begin: Adihex 2016 is now open

A visitor checks out a falcon on the opening day of Adihex on Tuesday.

 For the 14th year, the green light is on for the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (Adihex), which runs longer this year - for four days instead of the usual three days - with Emirati heritage and sustainable hunting in its poll positions.
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On Tuesday morning, 650 exhibitors from no less than 40 countries were standing by their pavilions at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, waiting for the gates of the exhibition halls to open. Their wait ended at 11am, when dozens of visitors were already queuing up to get in.
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"Overall, the show this year is reorganising itself. There is a more commercial approach for this 14th edition, with a lot more match-making for companies, but there is also heavy emphasis on culture, heritage and environment, which are enhanced by the participation of government organisations that put a lot of effort is showcasing their work," said Abdullah Butti Al Qubaisi, director of Adihex.
"We are also working on a five-year strategy for the exhibition and you can already see some changes at this year's edition," he added.
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Indeed, there is a new look to Adihex 2016. For a change, all exhibitors are grouped thematically. Flanked, as usual, by the weaponry and equestrian sections, the heart of the exhibition is organised in a few separate areas. There is the trading of outdoors equipment, particularly thick sleeping bags ideal for the cold desert winters or water and weather proof tents, camping cooking tools, lights and even drones, seen for the first time at Adihex, along with a golden bow that can actually be used in arching and jewellery.
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"We designed the golden bow especially for Adihex, where we've been coming for the past eight years. It's 24 karat plated gold. We didn't make it solid gold because it would have been too heavy," said Hubert Wursthorn, head of Archery Logistics, a German company specialising in bows.
The golden bow, which also has a small UAE flag encrusted on it in precious stones reflecting the flag's colours, is on sale for $25,000. The price includes seven gold plated arrows, representing the seven different emirates.
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Headed by the Emirates Falconers Club, organiser of Adihex, falconry takes central stage at the 2016 exhibition, with several breeders selling their best birds from around Dh8000 to Dh12,000.
The usual painting and photography competitions no longer take place this year, but there is a special area dedicated to an art gallery, hosting several artists exhibiting their works on Emirati landscapes and heritage. Government organisations, such as the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi and the UAE Armed Forces have their special space at Adihex, showcasing the best of two worlds: conservation of wildlife and preservation of Emirati culture and traditions. And then there is the arena where horse and dog shows take place daily.
As soon as the exhibition opened, dozens of school students took advantage of the pony rides offered here to the general public.
"I loved to see the falcons and the houbara, and the saluki dogs in the exhibition, but my favourite was riding the horses. They are so beautiful and I hope I can get my own horse one day," said 12-year-old Mariam Al Amri, an Emirati girl from Abu Dhabi, visiting Adihex with her school.

The golden bow
Archery Logistics, a German company specialising in bows, has made a golden bow that can actually be used in arching and jewellery. It's 24 karat plated gold and has a small UAE flag encrusted on it in precious stones reflecting the flag's colours. The bow is on sale for $25,000. The price includes seven gold-plated arrows, representing the seven different emirates.
When? Where?
Adihex 2016 will remain open daily from 11am to 10pm until September 8 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre
silvia@khaleejtimes.com