Today's Edition
KHALED AL KHAWALDEH (ABU DHABI)
For thousands of years, life in the UAE revolved around the art of finding refuge in the desert. Often travelling between different locations, Bedouins mastered the art of setting up home on the move. Nowadays, with most citizens having replaced the nomadic lifestyles of their forefathers for modernity, the practice has lived on through camping and outdoor activities, a hobby that is quickly growing into a multi-million-dollar industry both locally and abroad.
Speaking to Aletihad on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX), a global trade show for outdoor hunting and camping equipment, Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, the CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports, said he saw great potential for the UAE’s ability to grow its camping industry as well as hit export markets with locally made equipment.
“There is a massive growth potential in this industry, especially that the UAE has a very big coastline as well as a lot of natural features, a variety of environments. Encouraging visitors and locals to do more camping using the right material, and promoting awareness about the environment are crucial in this regard,” Captain Al Shamisi told Aletihad on Tuesday.
“Whatever product and equipment and material presented in this exhibition, especially if it is a local product that goes international, it will be something that’s unique about our heritage, going out to the world.”
Statista, a global leader in data and market analysis, forecasts revenue from the UAE’s camping and outdoor industry to hit $40.24m by 2029 with an emphasis on luxury and desert camping options. Certainly, at ADIHEX, the growth in products was observable, with a vast array of local companies displaying Emirati style camping equipment made increasingly popular by a growing social media trend of locals displaying their elaborate camping set-ups online.
Dr. Zubair Medammal, an Indian falconry professor who has been attending the event for over 20 years, said ADIHEX had certainly grown in both scope and size since its early days.
“For Arabs, this is part of their culture, the hunting and the desert. I think the interest in this is growing every year, especially in the younger people. I give talks and lectures to young people, and I see their excitement with falconry and getting outdoors firsthand,” Dr. Zubair told Aletihad.
“It is already a big business, and with so much care for conservation in the UAE it will only get bigger, I think.”
Dr. Zubair’s comments were echoed by Captain Al Shamisi who emphasised the importance of maintaining culture through camping and outdoors.
“It is extremely important for the young generation to know our environment, to know our culture, to know how we do things, how our ancestors used to live here. And it is extremely important to know that these practices need to be done in an environmentally friendly way.”
