Abu Dhabi readies for first Arab heritage saluki race festival

posted on 22/12/2010: 81 views

The first Arab Heritage Saluki Race Festival will be launched next Thursday at the camel racetrack in Zayed City in Al Gharbia (the Western Region).

The event is organised by the Arabian Saluki Centre and Al Dhafra Equestrian Club and sponsored by the Emirates Falconers Club and the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH).

The Festival, which gives a great opportunity for saluki owners to exercise their heritage sport in its natural desert environment, offers cash prizes of up to 500,000 UAE dirhams, and where first places receive cars and other high value prizes.

Obaid Khalfan Al Mazrouei, Director of the Festival, said that the event seeks to preserve an important heritage to revive deep-rooted customs and traditions.

Mazrouei added that the timing of the launch of the Festival was set to coincide with the activities of Al Dhafra Camel Festival, also currently hosted in Al Gharbia.

Meanwhile, Hamad Al Ghanaim, head of the races committee and Director of the Arabian Saluki Centre, said the Festival provides an opportunity to make people more familiar with the beauty and the ability to race and hunt enjoyed by salukis, while at the same time abiding by UAE which prohibits hunting throughout the country.

Al Ghanaim called on those who wish to participate in the Festival from the UAE and other Arab Gulf states to register before the December 22nd deadline. He also noted that non-purebred salukis will not be allowed to take part in the Festival's races. – Emirates News Agency, WAM

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