Under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler's Representative in the Western Region of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and President of the Emirates Falconers' Club, the 10th edition of the Abu Dhabi International Hunting & Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX 2012), will be held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Organized by the Emirates Falconers' Club, the exhibition runs from the 5th to the 8th of September.

The exhibition, celebrating its 10th edition this year, is labeled on the agenda of competent international events as a popular, quality family event, and as an artistic, heritage, environmental and cultural occasion that assimilates the economic aspect, as major deals are concluded and large contracts and sales are sealed.

Mr. Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Director of ADIHEX )Abu Dhabi, 2012 ( stressed that the exhibition, which enjoys extensive national and regional participation, has become a rare opportunity on both the regional and international levels to promote sustainable hunting, and has turned into a forum for the advocates of environmental conservation, hunting enthusiasts, poets and artists.

Al Qubaisi announced the competitions, organized annually by ADIHEX with total rewards worth more than Dh500,000, which include the competition of making and preparing Arab coffee on the traditional way, competition for the finest ‘Nabati’ poems on falcons and their loss and hunting, two competitions for the finest painting and for the finest Hunting and equestrian photograph, competition of the biggest and finest hybrid falcon in captivity of the types of gyrfalcon, peregrine falcon and male gyrfalcon, and the competition of the finest greyhound (saluki dog) of the two types; smooth and feathered.

These unique competitions have gained extensive popularity at the Arab and international levels throughout the previous editions, and are aimed at preserving the heritage and authentic traditions, while providing great care to environmental conservation and “sustainable hunting”.

Director of ADIHEX has mentioned as well that the 10th edition of ADIHEX will witness many various heritage and cultural events alongside great surprises that will take place then , and it is expected to attract about 100,000 visitors who are interested in heritage and equestrian sports, as well as pioneers of land and marine sports.

He pointed out that ADIHEX has become a festival for all family members with no exception, as it attracts children, young people and parents with the unmatched heritage shows in ADIHEX.

Al Qubaisi highlighted the uniqueness of this edition gained by the effective participation of exhibitors in the heritage and sport events in ADIHEX, through the organization of major companies and participating foundations to create innovative competitions in their booths in ADIHEX. These competitions are dedicated to the public with their different interests and categories, and they will be announced later as exhibitors’ participation in the celebration of the 10th edition of this universally unique event. The events include the sector of the various kinds of hunting weapons, marine sector, heritage tourism sector, equestrian shows sector, falcon flight show sector, in addition to many heritage and cultural events dedicated to children.

ADIHEX achieves tremendous success in each new edition, as the number of exhibitors and participating countries has enormously increased by more than 1200% comparing to the first edition, which was held in 2003 with the participation of 40 companies from 14 countries. More than 500 companies from 30 countries participated in the 9th edition.

ADIHEX is an annual event organized by Abu Dhabi. It has won a distinguished position and international recognition. The event succeeded as an artistic, heritage, environmental and cultural phenomenon that assimilates the economic aspect, which is necessary to ensure the continuity of any event regardless of the nobility of its aims. ADIHEX has gained huge popularity in the entire region and has been characterized by the conclusion of major deals and the signing of large contracts. At the same time, raising awareness about the concept of sustainable hunting was one of the organizers’ major concerns, as they have been keen on promoting the event in a way that reflects Abu Dhabi’s eminent position on the international level.

On both the regional and international levels, ADIHEX has become a rare opportunity to promote sustainable hunting, and has turned into a forum for the advocates of environmental conservation, hunting enthusiasts, poets and artists. The unique standing enjoyed by falconry and equestrian in the Arabian Peninsula is no secret. These activities have become a symbol of the deep-rooted Arab civilization, which combines sports, courage, manhood, environmental conservation, compassion towards birds and animals, noble qualities and all the values that have always characterized Arabs since ancient times.