ABU DHABI (WAM)
The Emirates Falconer’s Club (EFC) on Saturday marked the World Falconry Day (WFD), which the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) recognised on November 16, 2010 as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and an important part of human history.
Since then, on the same day every year, falconry enthusiasts from around the world gathered to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of falconry.
Majid Ali Al Mansoori, Secretary General of the EFC and President of the International Association for Falconry and Conservation of Birds of Prey (IAF), stated that falconry has expanded worldwide in an unprecedented way, thanks to the support of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the continuous follow-up of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler's Representative in the Al Dhafra Region and President of the EFC.
"Today, falconry is practiced legally in 90 countries by more than 100,000 falconers, thanks to the efforts initiated and led by the UAE over the years. One of the major achievements was the recognition of falconry by UNESCO as part of the world's intangible cultural heritage 14 years ago," he said.
He expressed sincere gratitude and appreciation to President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the founder of the EFC and Honorary President of the IAF, and to H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan for their significant support of efforts and projects aimed at preserving both Emirati and global heritage, with falconry being one of the most important pillars and shared connections.
This support follows the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who instilled in the hearts of the people of the UAE a love for heritage and pride in all its elements.
Eleven countries participated in the falconry registration procedures at that time and in preparing the joint file, led by the UAE, which was behind launching the initiative in the first place in 2005.
Falconry has been practiced in the Arab region for 4,000 years, traditionally by desert-dwelling Bedouins as an important form of hunting and fishing in a land with scarce natural resources.
As the region has undergone important transformations, the role of falconry in society has changed over time, and today it remains one of the most important and beloved traditional practices in the UAE.
The falconry file was originally nominated in 2000 and first inscribed in 2010, with efforts led by the UAE and supported by 11 Arab and international countries. Over the years the number of participating countries has grown with each new inscription.