emirates7 - The Emirates Falconer's Club (EFC) today celebrated World Falconry Day (WFD), a day officially recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) on November 16, 2010, as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Since then, falconry enthusiasts from across the globe have gathered annually to honor this rich cultural tradition.
Majid Ali Al Mansoori, Secretary General of the EFC and President of the International Association for Falconry and Conservation of Birds of Prey (IAF), highlighted that falconry has seen extraordinary global expansion, thanks to the support of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the continued efforts of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler's Representative in the Al Dhafra Region and EFC President.
"Today, falconry is legally practiced in 90 countries by over 100,000 falconers, a remarkable achievement largely due to the UAE's leadership in this field. One of our key successes was securing UNESCO recognition of falconry as part of the world's intangible cultural heritage 14 years ago," Al Mansoori said.
He expressed deep gratitude to President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, founder of the EFC and Honorary President of the IAF, and to H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan for their ongoing support in preserving both Emirati and global heritage, with falconry standing as a central element. This legacy of support follows the vision of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who instilled a deep appreciation for heritage among the people of the UAE.
The UAE led the effort to have falconry recognized, with 11 countries involved in the original registration process and the preparation of the joint file. This initiative, which began in 2005, was key to achieving UNESCO recognition.
Falconry has been practiced in the Arab region for over 4,000 years, particularly by Bedouins, who relied on it for hunting and fishing in a region with limited natural resources. Over time, as the region underwent significant changes, the role of falconry evolved. Today, it remains a cherished and vital tradition in the UAE.
The nomination for falconry as an intangible cultural heritage was first made in 2000, and it was officially inscribed in 2010, thanks to the UAE's leadership and the support of 11 Arab and international countries. Since then, the number of participating nations has continued to grow with each new inscription.
Majid Ali Al Mansoori, Secretary General of the EFC and President of the International Association for Falconry and Conservation of Birds of Prey (IAF), highlighted that falconry has seen extraordinary global expansion, thanks to the support of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the continued efforts of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler's Representative in the Al Dhafra Region and EFC President.
"Today, falconry is legally practiced in 90 countries by over 100,000 falconers, a remarkable achievement largely due to the UAE's leadership in this field. One of our key successes was securing UNESCO recognition of falconry as part of the world's intangible cultural heritage 14 years ago," Al Mansoori said.
He expressed deep gratitude to President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, founder of the EFC and Honorary President of the IAF, and to H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan for their ongoing support in preserving both Emirati and global heritage, with falconry standing as a central element. This legacy of support follows the vision of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who instilled a deep appreciation for heritage among the people of the UAE.
The UAE led the effort to have falconry recognized, with 11 countries involved in the original registration process and the preparation of the joint file. This initiative, which began in 2005, was key to achieving UNESCO recognition.
Falconry has been practiced in the Arab region for over 4,000 years, particularly by Bedouins, who relied on it for hunting and fishing in a region with limited natural resources. Over time, as the region underwent significant changes, the role of falconry evolved. Today, it remains a cherished and vital tradition in the UAE.
The nomination for falconry as an intangible cultural heritage was first made in 2000, and it was officially inscribed in 2010, thanks to the UAE's leadership and the support of 11 Arab and international countries. Since then, the number of participating nations has continued to grow with each new inscription.