One of the most valued and preserved activities of Saudi Arabia—Falconry has been in the region for 10,000 years. While in the past it was a male-dominated pursuit, over the past few years, women in the region have been taking part actively in falconry.

The International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX) has this year, laid focus on Women in Falconry at the conference ‘The Future of Falconry.’

The conference will be hosted in the next edition of ADIHEX in cooperation with UNESCO and organised by Emirates Falconers’ Club and the International Association for Falconry and Conservation of Birds of Prey (IAF), which has more than 75,000 falconers worldwide from 90 countries.

ADIHEX will take place from September 27 to October 3, 2021, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of the Emirates Falconers’ Club.

Over the past two decades, the falconry year-round events organised by the UAE have encouraged girls to learn the arts, skills, and techniques of falconry, hunting, and safari, which allowed them to take part in falconry competitions, just as happened in equestrian and other traditional sports.

In 2018, the Mohamed bin Zayed School of Falconry and Desert Physiognomy in Al Ain celebrated the graduation of the first group of female falconers, who mastered the principles of Arabian Falconry and its morals, rules, and ancient arts.

The school has seen a vast entry of students eager to learn the art of Arabian Falconry and the principles of desert life. Ever since, the school has attracted 2,021 students of both sexes, including 1,163 males and 858 females, showing keen interest in falconry.

Once a country of male falconers, today, many female falconers in the UAE train, teach, and raise birds, including some who specialize in treating falcons. There has been a great shift in the past few years as Emirati women entered the equestrian world.

Women have always had to choose to pursue falconry in a way appropriate to their luxurious and extravagant lifestyle. However, contemporary generations of women, especially since World War II, falconry has been a recent upsurge in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, involving more women in falconry than ever before in history.