Adihex draws record 2,400 exhibitors across 10-day Abu Dhabi showcase

A record 2,400-plus exhibitors from 71 countries descended on Adnec in Abu Dhabi on Friday as the 23rd Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition opened its doors. Adihex runs through September 6 in its longest format yet, a 10-day stretch that organizers say makes this the largest edition in the event’s history. Hundreds of thousands of visitors are projected to pass through.

The expanded schedule reflects the commercial weight the exhibition now carries. Falcon auctions were already generating transactions before the opening ceremony, with breeders and buyers moving quickly to connect ahead of the main floor activity. That early momentum signals how seriously the trade side of the event is taken.

Falcon breeding has grown into a cross-border commercial enterprise, and Adihex is one of its primary marketplaces. Fahad Masab, a breeder from Kuwait and manager of Suqoor Elite LLC, arrived with roughly 50 birds sourced from multiple countries. “I have Gir and Saqer, Golden Saqer. There are some from Germany, some from Russia,” he told The National. Over the 10-day run, Masab projected sales of 20 to 30 birds, with buyers visiting his booth from around the world. He also pointed to the sector’s longer-term outlook: “We are looking for a good and safe future for falcons. The government has come and is working on this.”

Meanwhile, individual collectors treat the exhibition as a sourcing trip. Nahyan Alkhyeli, 25, from Abu Dhabi, manages 30 birds of prey and attends specifically to trade and restock. “We come here to browse, trade and buy what suits us, whether it’s a falcon, falcon supplies, or hunting and fishing equipment,” he said. The depth of available merchandise, from specialized hoods to live birds, reflects how mature the supply chain around falconry has become. “You wouldn’t believe the hoods, the talons, the falcons. Everything is available,” Alkhyeli added.

Arabian horses anchor the equestrian section with daily shows and performances. Yousif Al Hammedi, a trainer for the Emirates Arabian Horse Association, was preparing to perform with his horse Rabdan when he spoke about the Saqlawi breed, historically prized for long-distance travel. “Today, horses hold a special place in our hearts, as if they were an inheritance passed down from generation to generation,” he said. “They’re part of my family.” The cultural weight attached to these animals keeps the equestrian segment a consistent draw alongside the commercial falcon trade.

The exhibition pulls visitors from across the Gulf. Nabil Al Muqbali traveled from Sohar in Oman, as he does most years, to track developments in falconry, hunting, equestrian activities, and adventure travel equipment. He brought his youngest children, Albana and Alyaman, framing the visit as cultural education. “It’s part of our customs, traditions, and heritage. Keeping up with history by bringing modern products and new equipment is a good thing, and we should keep pace for both the past and the future,” he said. His reasoning captures the exhibition’s commercial logic: traditional practices sustain a specialized global market, and Adihex is where that market concentrates.

First-time visitors are also finding their way in. Elod Gyorgy, a UAE resident originally from Romania, attended after colleagues recommended it. “It’s an interesting experience, you get to see your stuff that you would never see in other places,” he said. That pull, the scarcity and specialization of what is on offer, is precisely what keeps the exhibitor count growing year on year.

Whether the 10-day format becomes the new baseline, or whether future editions push further still, may depend on how much commercial appetite the event continues to generate from international breeders, buyers, and equipment suppliers.