Mohammed bin Zayed Awards 200 Houbaras to Top Achievers at Sixth Qatar International Falcons and Hunting Festival

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - Saturday, January 31st 2015 [ME NewsWire]

General HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces awarded 200 Houbara Bustards from the National Avian Research Center to the top three winners at the Sixth Qatar International Falcons and Hunting Festival 2015. The first place winner received a total of 100 Houbaras, while the second and third place winners obtained 60 and 40 Houbaras respectively. This generous gift aims at honoring the winners and reflects His Highness’s unwavering efforts to preserve this traditional cultural heritage in the Gulf States and to promote breeding and conservation of this endangered bird.

Lt. General HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, presented the generous gift to the winners on behalf of HH the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi on Saturday evening at the closing ceremony of the festival, which was held at the Cultural Village of Katara in the sisterly State of Qatar. During the closing ceremony, winners were crowned and members of the judging panel were honored.

 In his speech on the occasion, HH Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior said: “This generous gesture granted by General HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, embodies the unstinting commitment and permanent support of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, to the protection of the environment and heritage. It also reflects the keenness of the UAE to promote all practices related to the Gulf identity and culture and to encourage traditional sports enthusiasts to pursue their efforts to preserve this heritage in all of its forms.”

Adding further, His Highness said: “Using the Houbara as a valuable gift to honor winners of the various local and regional heritage activities, in addition to encouraging the youth of the Gulf to preserve this precious bird is an important part of the cultural, humanitarian and national strategy embraced by the United Arab Emirates. It is also based on the insightful vision and the very first environmental initiatives adopted by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, May God rest his soul, and pursued by His Highness, president of the UAE.”

His Highness Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan was greeted upon arrival at the Hamad International Airport in Qatar, by His Highness Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Personal Representative of the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, along with a number of Qatari officials.

The UAE constantly seeks to preserve rare species such as the Arabian Oryx and the Houbara Bustards, to ensure that these species remain sustainable for future generations. This also embodies the UAE’s civilized approach, charitable programs and green environmental policy to preserve the environment and its natural components. The UAE also aims at breeding the Houbaras in captivity to increase the captive breeding stock pending their release to the wild, by establishing nature reserves. Furthermore, the released Houbaras are fitted with GPS satellite tracking devices to track their movement and to monitor their behavior as they integrate into their natural habitat.

Attended the closing ceremony and crowning of winners alongside HH Sheikh Saif were Saleh Mohammed bin Nasra Al Ameri, UAE Ambassador to Qatar; Jawaan Awaidha Suhail Al Khaili; Jum’a Ahmed Hamel Al Qubaisi; Colonel Saud Al Saadi, Director of the Secretariat of the Office of HH the Minister; along with a large crowd of spectators.

It is worth mentioning that the Sixth Qatar International Falcons and Hunting Festival is an annual tradition combining heritage and sports, and is marked by a significant turnout of local and regional audience.

Photo Captions:

HH Mohammed bin Zayed’s gift presented to first place winner by HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed (photo)

HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed upon his arrival to Qatar greeted by HH Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani (Two photos)

HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed speaking with participants in the presence of Jassim HH Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani (Two photos)

HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed attending the Sixth Qatar International Falcons and Hunting Festival 2015.

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The Arabic-language text of this announcement is the official, authoritative version. Translations are provided as an accommodation only, and should be cross-referenced with the Arabic-language text, which is the only version of the text intended to have legal effect.

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