Al Dhafra Festival announces conditions for Falcon Hunting Competition

Organized by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), and under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the Al Dahfra Festival (2012) will be held from the 15th to the 29th of December, 2012 in Madinat Zayed (Zayed City), Al Gharbia (the Western Region) in Abu Dhabi.

The Higher Organizing Committee of the Festival has set the conditions and designated the different categories for the Falcon Hunting Competition to ensure the smooth progress of the event. Concerning the different categories of the competition, the Director of the Al Dhafra Festival's Heritage Competitions, Obaid Khalfan Al Mazrouei stated two categories, namely the Gyr falcon and its different types such as the three-quarters, 8/7, Al Qurmousha Gyr and the pure Gyr, as well as the category of the Shaheen falcon (Peregrine) and all its types, such as the Shaheen Gyr, and the Wakri Gyr.

Al Mazrouei also announced the conditions set for the competition, noting that the contest begins daily from 2.00 p.m., and that the distance is 400 meters. The Supervising Committee will check the falcon's category in the case of any doubts. Any falcon that doesn't carry an ID ring will not be allowed into the competition. Every participant is entitled to participate with more than one falcon in the categories of the competition, provided that the owner the falcon takes full responsibility for the process of the falcon's invitation, and the providing of the falcon's perch. The conditions also stipulate that the falcon's invitation cannot be carried on using a pigeon.

Al Mazrouei stressed that that the Committee's decisions are final and not subject to objection, noting that valuable prizes will be awarded to the winners of the ten top positions.

Al Mazrouei said that registration for the competition opened on 01/12/2012 and will continue until 15/12/2012.

The competition for the category of the Gyr falcon will be held on 16/12/2012, and the one for the category of the Shaheen Gyr will take place on 17/12/2012, Al Mazrouei added.