Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi expressed satisfaction with ‘International Exhibition for Hunting and Equestrian’.
ABU DHABI - Gen. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, expressed his satisfaction with the wings he visited and inspected at the International Exhibition for Hunting and Equestrian (Abu Dhabi 2008).
Sheikh Mohammed said the event reflects the keenness of the United Arab Emirates under the leadership of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan to uphold the heritage of our forefathers and the givings of our great grandparents, the revival of deep-rooted Arab traditions, work to preserve and develop them, and introduce the coming generation to their most prominent features and components, as they represent an essential element in maintaining the national identity and an important tributary of the stock of human heritage.
He said in a statement during his inspection tour of the Exhibition yesterday evening that the unprecedented successes achieved by traditional specialized exhibitions in the UAE confirms the rightness of the approach taken by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan by taking pride in heritage, traditional customs, and Arab tradition, noting that Sheikh Zayed was committed to the preservation of the environment and the protection of endangered wild animals and birds from extinction.
The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi said the International Exhibition for Hunting and Equestrian “provides a unique opportunity to highlight the civilization image and the cultural and humanitarian components of the United Arab Emirates, and to introduce the level reached by the country in dealing with this cultural heritage and ancient heritage of humanity.”
He pointed out that the Exhibition strengthens the position of the United Arab Emirates through its institutions and in collaboration with international bodies to preserve the natural environment. This has been done through programs that include falcon breeding, protection of camel and horse breeds, and promoting sustainable hunting.
Sheikh Mohammed expressed his satisfaction with the Exhibition which has become a global event sought by exhibitors and visitors to view all that is new in the hunting and equestrian world, promoting exchange of ideas.
The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi noted that the Exhibition has continued to succeed since its launch and he praised the role played by Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and President of the Emirates Falconers’ Club, the Organising Committee of the Exhibition and all participants.
Sheikh Mohammed, during his two hour tour of the Exhibition, accompanied by H.E Mohammed Khalaf Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the Organising Committee of the Exhibition and the number of officials, was briefed on the various activities and events held at the Exhibition and on the projects of the Emirates Falconers’ Club, that include the use of hybrid birds instead of endangered wild ones for hunting.
He was also briefed by Mazrouie on the strategy of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage to preserve the cultural traditions Abu Dhabi.
Sheikh Mohammed was also shown photos of the old market of Abu Dhabi and other exhibits as he toured the wings of the Authority.
Workshops on heritage were also visited by Sheikh Mohammed during his inspection tour, where traditional products, food, clothing were on display.
The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi visited ‘Made in the UAE’ handicrafts wing and then the wing that displays a collection of traditional items gathered by Youssef Al Khouri.
Sheikh Mohammed was briefed on the firearms companies participating in the Exhibition, and the special rifles that were on display.
He stopped at the stand of ‘Caracal’, a UAE weapons manufacturer that caters for small arms and hunting rifles. The Caracal Shooting Club will begin to give courses on targeting next November.
Sheikh Mohammed was also briefed on the participation of Italian, German and other international weapons companies, including the wing of the company MP3, where the biggest hunting rifle in the word was displayed, among other specially-tailored guns.
The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi visited the wing of the UAE company ‘International Golden Group’, specialized in marketing weapons and ammunition.
Sheikh Mohammed visited the wing of the photographer Abdullah Al Gunaibi, entitled ‘rare footages and moments’, which contains a set of unique and rare pictures and video films of hunting trips of a number UAE Sheikhs inside and outside the country
He visited other UAE wings, including Abu Dhabi airport and car manufacturers.
Sheikh Mohammed went to the wing for the development of Japan’s oil to be briefed on the company’s role in protecting the environment.
The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi witnessed the camel auction and visited the Saluki Centre where he was briefed on the place of those in Arab history and tradition.
At the end of his tour, Sheikh Mohammed visited wing of UAE jewelry design of UAE Azza Al Qubaisi, where he praised the quality of the pieces there, which reflect the identity and culture of the UAE. Sheikh Mohammed also stopped at the wing of the ‘Dhafra’ magazine, which deals with heritage affairs.
