Fazza Championship for Falconry soars to new heights

Fazza Championship for Falconry opens its doors to more than 100 participants

Falconers participate in the Fazza Championship for Falconry during the Liwa International Festival near the Tel Mareeb dune. Christopher Pike / The National

Bigger tents, a new bird registration system and improved judging will help make this year’s Fazza Championship for Falconry the best so far.

About 100 people and their falcons from across the Arabian Gulf have registered to take part.

Falconers have welcomed the changes to the Dubai event, organised by the Hamdan bin Mohammed Heritage Centre.

“Each year the competition becomes better. I’ve found that every year the organisers from the Hamdan bin Mohammed Heritage Centre amaze the competitors by doing things that are unexpected,” said Helal Al Shedy, one of the falconers.

“I’m thankful for the effort that is put in to the competition, the development of it each year, and this makes me very happy to be a part.”

This year, all new judges will get together with experienced judges to learn their techniques.

“This means that the new judges can gain valuable experience and allow for more people to become involved in the sport and share the experience,” said Ahmad bin Ali, from the judging committee.

“There are approximately 20 judges, with a mix of experience in judging falconry competitions.

“There are a lot of competitors coming from other countries, mainly Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and other countries from the GCC.”

The championship’s first round began on Sunday.

The competition, which is held under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, takes place in the falconry grounds in the Ruwayyah area along Emirates Road and ends in the middle of next month.