ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
Under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai, President of the International Federation for Falconry Sports and Racing (IFFSR), and President of the UAE Falcons Federation, the third edition IFFSR Cup over a 400-metre distance, titled “Masters Heats”, will be held on February 14 at Lahbab Track, at the Hamdan bin Mohammed Heritage Centre in Dubai.
The championship will witness widespread international participation, with 27 teams representing 25 countries competing across four diverse heats, underscoring the tournament’s global appeal and its growing stature on the competitive heritage sports map.
The hosting of the third edition follows the cooperation agreement signed last month between the UAE Falcons Federation and the Supreme Organising Committee of the Open Masters Games, aimed at strengthening collaboration ahead of the global event, which will be held in Abu Dhabi from February 6-15, bringing together more than 25,000 athletes competing across 37 sports over 10 days.
The agreement was signed by Rashid bin Markhan, Secretary General of the UAE Falcons Federation (UAEFF), and Aref Al Awani, Secretary General of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC).
The IFFSR has strengthened the championship’s global stature and institutional competitiveness by establishing the Cup as an annual platform that brings together national federations and teams from around the world, uniting falconers under the Federation’s umbrella and advancing falconry’s evolution from a local tradition into an international sport.
The first IFFSR in 2023 saw Al Gannas Qatari Society team winning first place and the Cup title, followed by the national federation’s team in second place, and the Committee of Popular Heritage Sports of the Kingdom of Bahrain in third. In the second edition in 2024, the UAE Falcons Federation secured first place, Al Gannas were placed second, and the Bahraini Committee for Traditional Sports team came third.
Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, Vice President of the IFFSR and UAEFF, emphasised the importance of leveraging major sporting platforms to promote the sport of the UAE’s forefathers, both domestically and globally. He noted that hosting the IFFSR Cup holds particular significance this year, as it coincides with the Open Masters Games – Abu Dhabi, which is set to welcome more than 25,000 athletes from around the world.
He added: “We take pride in the inclusion of falconry within the sports programme of the Open Masters Games. Thanks to the support of our wise leadership, falconry has transitioned from a recreational pursuit to a global sport, with falconry championships receiving recognition from the IFFSR.”
He expressed strong confidence in the ability of the Open Masters organising committee to deliver the event to the highest international standards.