Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed honours winners of the Expo Dubai 2020 Telwah Falconry Championship

Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid bin Rashid al-Maktoum, president of the UAE Falconry Federation, attended a ceremony to honour the winners of the Dubai Expo 2020 Telwah Falconry Championship at the Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre.

Rashid bin Markhan, secretary general of the UAE Falconry Federation said, "The Dubai Expo 2020 Falconry Cup, which promotes excellence in the sport, symbolises the renewal of the UAE's sporting traditions and cultural heritage, guided by the vision of our leadership and the directives of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohamed bin Mohamed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, president of the UAE Falconry Federation."

The event was attended by Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad bin Hamdan al-Nahyan, vice president of the UAE Falcons Federation, and members of the Federation's Board of Directors, including Abdul Allah Ahmad al-Qubaisi, Demithan Sowaidan Saeed al-Qamzi , Salem Ateeq al-Muhairi, Abdul Aziz Sultan al-Ali, Mohammed Issa al-Khaili, Mubarak Saif al-Mansouri and Youssef Abdullah al-Ali.

The UAE Falcons Federation secretary general expressed his appreciation to Dubai Expo 2020 for its support and sponsorship of the Cup, which reflects the country's sporting heritage, an integral part of the UAE's identity, rich history and culture. The nine-day championship, held from 7-15 December, was attended by more than 1,000 falcons and 500 falconers.

Falcons and falconry have been intertwined with Emirati culture for thousands of years. The Bedouin Arabs used the birds primarily for hunting in the arid deserts where food was scarce. As times changed, hunting was no longer part of Emirati daily life, but falcons were still valued. Today, falcons are used for sports more than anything else, and are a symbol of pride and honour among Arabs. In 2016, UNESCO added falconry to its list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

Text, photos and video: Expo Dubai 2020.