Adihex hunting show returns to capital next week

The Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition will be held at Adnec from September 14 to 17.

More than 500 brands of the latest weaponry, camping and hunting equipment will be on sale at Adihex. Above, last year's exhibition.
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ABU DHABI // Tracking equipment that can follow multiple falcons, high-performance vehicles designed for the desert and spa machines that pamper horses - these are some of the products likely to turn heads at a hunting and equestrian exhibition in the capital next week.
The Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (Adihex) will feature hundreds of exhibitors displaying products that attempt to show ways technology and tradition can come together.
"In general, hunting is not a high-tech activity, because it is about bonding with nature, so the weapons used in it are simpler and more traditional," said Ahmad Kamel, the office manager of MP3 International, an Abu Dhabi-based supplier of arms and weapons throughout the Gulf.
"However, technology helps in deciding the amount of powder required and the type of metal to be used, which gives higher precision and a lighter weapon."
Adihex 2010 attracted nearly 600 exhibitors from 39 countries and more than 100,000 visitors.
This year's event runs from September 14-17 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre and will be open daily from 11am to 10pm. It will feature camel auctions, saluki beauty contests, art competitions and traditional hunting and equestrian activities. More than 500 brands of the latest camping, hunting, equestrian and weaponry equipment will be on sale.
A heritage area will feature a competition in preparing Arabic coffee the traditional way, and offer prizes for the best research paper on Arab hunting and equestrian traditions and for the finest hunting, equestrian and heritage paintings.
The exhibition will also feature a nabati poetry competition. Prizes will be awarded in three categories: describing a bird, describing losing a bird and describing a hunting trip.
"Hunting, particularly in the Middle East, is being rediscovered by new generations, even in countries where it was previously not popular," said Abdullah Al Qubaisi, the director of Adihex.
"In addition to being an outdoors pursuit, part of the reason for its increased appeal is that technology is now making it more convenient, more accessible and more enjoyable."
jthomas@thenational.ae