Dubai showcased its living falconry tradition as Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum attended the Fazza Falcons Racing Cup in Dubai, held at the Lahbab Track at the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center.
The event brought together leading falconers from across the UAE for a series of tightly contested races. Participants competed across six rounds, reflecting both the technical depth of the sport and its growing professional standards.
Elite competition across three categories
Organisers structured the Cup around three categories. Sheikhs. Owners. Open Public.
This format ensured broad participation while maintaining a high competitive bar.
The races demonstrated how falconry continues to evolve. Advanced training methods, precision timing, and disciplined handling now define the sport alongside its cultural roots.
Honouring winners at the closing ceremony
During the final ceremony, Sheikh Mohammed crowned the winners and acknowledged the effort behind the competition’s organisation.
Senior officials attended the event, including Rashid bin Markhan, Secretary General of the International Federation for Falconry Sports and Racing, along with board members of the UAE Falcons Federation.
Officials briefed Sheikh Mohammed on the Cup’s qualification process and highlighted improvements introduced in its second edition, particularly in race structure and performance benchmarks.
Leadership support shapes the Cup’s growth
Speaking during the event, Sheikh Mohammed praised the Cup’s rapid progress.
Organisers attributed that momentum to continued support from Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and strategic direction from Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the International Federation for Falconry Sports and Racing.
That backing, they said, has helped establish the Fazza Falcons Racing Cup as a regular fixture on the UAE’s sporting calendar despite its recent launch.
High stakes and strong performances
The Cup featured a total prize pool of AED 2.8 million, drawing falcons that had already performed strongly in the Fazza Falconry Hunting Championships.
In the Sheikhs Category, the F3 Team delivered standout results, securing top positions across multiple rounds with competitive timings.
Meanwhile, falconers in the Owners and Open Public categories recorded closely matched finishes, underlining the rising depth of competition across the field.
Heritage carried forward
At the conclusion of the event, Sheikh Mohammed posed for photographs with the winners, marking the end of a competition that balanced tradition with modern sport.
Since its launch, the Fazza Falcons Racing Cup has played a clear role. It preserves falconry as a cultural practice while pushing it forward as a structured, competitive discipline. In doing so, it reinforces the UAE’s standing as a centre of falconry excellence rooted in heritage and sustained by innovation.
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