Young people and experts in falconry gathered in Riyadh for the third King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival, which will run until December 12.
Organised by the Saudi Falcons Club, the festival offers more than 22.7 million Saudi riyals ($6.05m) in cash prizes is allocated.
The top 10 winners of Al Malwah 400-metre competition are chosen at the end of daily rounds of competitions and finalists will be selected to compete for the King Abdulaziz Cup.
Last year, the festival won a place in the Guinness World Records in the largest falcon racing tournament category. Saudi Arabia was listed by Unesco as one of the 11 top countries home to many species of falcon.
“This is a moment of pride for us. We are honoured to be a part of Saudi Vision 2030 where the leadership wants our youth and the world to be able to learn and celebrate our culture. I wait for this event more than anything else. I cannot wait to see who wins the finals and will be coming back with my brothers during the festival,” said Mosaed Alhamra, a enthusiast who has attended the event since its launch.
Falcon breeding and hunting with falcons has long been a part of Arab history.
“It is an art form, one that takes skill and patience, we have been breeding and preserving our beautiful falcons for ever. Our region serves as a key migratory route for various bird species, especially falcons that are recognised internationally as endangered, we are honoured to protect them,” said Saad Numaili, a visitor to the festival.
Female enthusiasts and collectors were also present.
"You would think it is a male-dominated sport or activity, it is not the case. If you look deeper, we, the women, as young girls have been living with, raised with and grown with these beautiful species," said Ghalia, a falcon enthusiast in Riyadh.
"We know how to train them and look after them, which is such an honour to be honest. I have the freedom to come out now and promote our cultural heritage thanks to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who encourages women's participation. I am happy to share it with the world."
According to the SFC, the kingdom complies with international conventions on the protection of falcons from extinction and the protection of migratory birds.
Hunting the birds of prey has been banned since 1975. SFC also launched the Hadad programme to make falconry sustainable, preserving a rare breed – shaheen (peregrine) falcons – by releasing them into their wild habitat, to further strengthen the kingdom's role in protecting the environment and wildlife.
Last month, Faleh Al Oudwani and his son Nasser donated 10 falcons to strengthen the cause from the 20 they acquired with a value of approximately 1.5 million riyals.
“You won’t believe the prices of some falcons, they can cost up to millions of riyals. It is like a status symbol. People go to great lengths to obtain the rare breeds and treat them like royalty. The Hadad programme is a great cause to help ensure falconry’s sustainability and protecting the future of the species,” said Abdullah Dosary, a falcon trader and enthusiast.
Last month, Abdul Rahman Al Fadli, Saudi Arabia's minister of environment, water and agriculture, handed over the first passport issued for a falcon. This was through a new electronic platform, Fateri, as part of the National Centre for Wildlife Development plans to streamline procedures for issuing licences for import, export and other activities related to wildlife.
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
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It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
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PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
THE BIO
Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13
Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier
Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife
What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents.
Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.
The years Ramadan fell in May
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
What is Diwali?
The Hindu festival is at once a celebration of the autumn harvest and the triumph of good over evil, as outlined in the Ramayana.
According to the Sanskrit epic, penned by the sage Valmiki, Diwali marks the time that the exiled king Rama – a mortal with superhuman powers – returned home to the city of Ayodhya with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman, after vanquishing the 10-headed demon Ravana and conquering his kingdom of Lanka. The people of Ayodhya are believed to have lit thousands of earthen lamps to illuminate the city and to guide the royal family home.
In its current iteration, Diwali is celebrated with a puja to welcome the goodness of prosperity Lakshmi (an incarnation of Sita) into the home, which is decorated with diyas (oil lamps) or fairy lights and rangoli designs with coloured powder. Fireworks light up the sky in some parts of the word, and sweetmeats are made (or bought) by most households. It is customary to get new clothes stitched, and visit friends and family to exchange gifts and greetings.
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The specs: 2019 Haval H6
Price, base: Dh69,900
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 197hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 315Nm @ 2,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
UFC Fight Night 2
1am – Early prelims
2am – Prelims
4am-7am – Main card
7:30am-9am – press cons
Our legal advisor
Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation.
Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
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De De Pyaar De
Produced: Luv Films, YRF Films
Directed: Akiv Ali
Cast: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Rakul Preet Singh, Jimmy Sheirgill, Jaaved Jaffrey
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
