ADIHEX to open for 12th year of success

The Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition, ADIHEX, will open its doors on Wednesday, September 10th for its 12th session, which organisers say is expected to be a great success.
ADIHEX was first opened in 2003 by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who instructed that the event be held in Abu Dhabi every year, turning it into a world class event. H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in the Western Region and Chairman of the Emirates Falconer's Club, directed the members of the Higher Organising Committee to keep up the work of developing the exhibition to meet the highest standards, and promote sustainable hunting as part of the U.A.E.'s traditional heritage, customs and values.
Mohammed Khalaf Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the Higher Organising Committee, member of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Falconer's Club and Advisor for Culture and Heritage in the Court of His Highness the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, said that the late Sheikh Zayed's presence at the first exhibition in September 2003 was evidence of his desire to take part in the important heritage event with his country's sons and daughters. This important visit, said Al Mazrouei, left a great impression in the hearts of the exhibitors and the attending hunting and fishing enthusiasts and contributed greatly to the exhibition's success.
"Sheikh Zayed had the foresight to create a balance between maintaining the traditional heritage of falconry and making sure that falcons and their prey remain in the wild in the future," he explained.
Al Mazrouei went on to say, "To conservationists, Zayed was the face of undying values born from his experiences and convictions. He loved nature and the wildlife in a way never before seen. The renowned British journalist, Patrick Seale, who met Sheikh Zayed in Al Ain City back in 1965, wrote, 'He knew every stone, every tree, every bird of his domain. Above all, he understood the importance of preserving every drop of water and putting it to productive use. Tree-planting was his passion.'" The event, with its emphasis on equestrian heritage, comes on the heels of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, winning gold in the endurance event at the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France