British expat explores UAE’s beloved pastime, its heritage
ABU DHABI — Falconry is deeply ensconced in the UAE heritage. Dating back to pre-Islamic times, falconry was an integral part of desert life and practised to supplement a Bedouin community’s diet. Now practised as a sport, falconry is seen as a beloved pastime in the UAE.
Harry Garland, a British expat falconer at the Dubai Falcon Centre, was introduced to the sport by his father as a young child. Garland fondly recalls his first experience flying hawks back home.
“When I started at a young age in the UK, I was flying hawks alongside ferrets, cars and at night time with a lamp, which was great fun.” After two seasons of observing and practising falcon training, hunting and racing, Garland is accompanied by his falcon hunting and racing partner, English.
Two bird species that people in the Arab Gulf prefer to train are ‘AlHur’
Falconry is a way of remembering the close connection that previous ancestors had with the falcon as a means to collect food and work together to survive.” Harry Garland, British expat falconer
(Saqr) and ‘Ash-Shaheen’ (Peregrine). Commenting on the different sport practices experienced in the UK and the UAE, Garland said that the spotlight in the UAE is now on races, adding that while hunting is still practised, a shortage of quarry sees falconers venturing outside of the UAE to find good hunting grounds — an aspect readily available in the UK.
On the future of falconry, Garland expressed his optimism, saying that “this (growing attention) is great for the future as it brings more interest into the field and therefore the heritage and culture of the UAE continues to thrive.”
As for hunting purposes, Garland hopes for more opportunities in the local area to arise.
These conservation efforts date back to the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan’s various initiatives, which included the world’s first International Conference on falconry and conservation, held in the UAE Capital in 1976.
The young nation was also the first country in the world to issue passports for falcons in an effort to support the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna, CITES, which seeks to crack down on illegal smuggling of falcons and birds of prey.
Speaking on conservation and animal welfare, Garland went on to say that the welfare of falcons in the UAE is exceptional, due to the large number of falcon hospitals and highly skilled veterinarians and doctors that have concentrated on the health of the bird of prey. “Falconers also hold falcons in very high regard and the connection is usually similar to a family member,” he said.
With 2018 being declared as the Year of Zayed, it is evident that the legacy left behind by the late Sheikh Zayed continues to thrive with each and every falconer throughout the UAE, Garland said.
“The various organisations that were set up by the late ruler including the Abu Dhabi Falconers Club and the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital have also helped to maintain the culture and ease of participation in the UAE.”