Abu Dhabi: One of the greatest merits of the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX) is its standing as the first and most prominent heritage event in the Arab region that celebrates dogs as the loyal friends of man for thousands of years.
ADIHEX, the largest of its kind in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, is organized under the patronage of HH Shaikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of the Emirates Falconers’ Club, on September 27 – October 3, under the theme “Sustainability and Heritage…A Reborn Aspiration”.
ADIHEX has regularly organized an annual contest to choose the “most beautiful hunting dog”, in which participation is limited to the “Arabian Saluki”, one of the oldest dog breeds in the world, and a potent symbol of desert and hunting traditions.
The Arabian Saluki Beauty Contest is a unique opportunity to promote interest in purebred breeds of hunting dogs, enhance the bonds of tradition and culture of the ancestors with the younger generations and provide the opportunity for Saluki owners to display the skills and characteristics of their dogs.
The contest includes four categories: Al Hoss (smooth) and Aryash (feathery), males and females, and each category will have its own valuable prizes, and it is exclusively for Arabian Saluki dogs and owners must ensure that the participating dogs are healthy, vaccinated, and tagged with an electronic chip.
The Arabian Saluki Beauty Contest differs from other dog shows around the world where the focus is only on the external appearance of the dog.
At ADIHEX, the criteria for evaluation and judging include the lineage and breed of the dog, manner of walking and movement, general appearance such as head-shape and body, temperament, skills in hunting and tracking the prey, and its reactions and responses.
The Saluki has been an important part of Arab hunting heritage since ancient times. Arabs have bred these dogs for more than 7,000 years and they are renowned for their exceptional endurance, intelligence, and loyalty.
The Arabian Saluki native habitats are the Arabian Peninsula, Egypt, Iraq, Syria, and Jordan. While there are many different strains of Saluki, the most important in the region and at the Arabian Saluki Centre in Abu Dhabi are the Shadeed, Thibyan, Tarrah, and Gannas from the short-haired Al Hoss (smooth) family and the Lahaq, Dhabyan, and Khattaf from the long-haired Aryash (feathery) family.
The Arabian Saluki is used along with falcons in the sport of hunting and as a guard dog. It has a lifespan of 16 to 18 years and can run at speeds of up to 75 kilometres per hour. Saluki is loyal in nature, guards his owner, protects his home and hunts only in his company.
The Saluki has always played an important role in hunting trips due to its ability to find prey that was struck by the falcon, hiding in bushes, tall grass, or other hideouts. Thus, falcon and Saluki work together to catch hidden preys.
The Arabian Saluki Centre in Abu Dhabi aims to revive the sport of hunting with Saluki dogs and preserve its tradition and authentic breeds with a documented reference for them. It provides the necessary information about the sport as well as the Saluki’s unique characteristics and how to raise them.
With the support of Emirates Falconers’ Club, the Arabian Saluki Center was established in 2001, in Abu Dhabi, to be the first of its kind in the Arabian Gulf region and the Middle East.
In line with its efforts to preserve the customs and traditions of falconry in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the Arabian Saluki Centre provides the best breeds of Arabian hunting dogs to those who wish to acquire them.
Other services include breeding, training, health services, tagging with identification chips, keeping birth records, issuing passports and lineage certificates, as well as preparing transportation and travel documents and arrangements in accordance with applicable laws.
