Dubai: His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai, President of the International Federation for Falconry Sports and Racing (IFFSR) and President of the UAE Falcons Federation, directed the launch of the ‘Sheikh Zayed Principles of Falconry’ Charter to mark the 50th anniversary of the International Conference on Falconry and Conservation, the inaugural edition of which was held in Abu Dhabi in 1976.
The Charter will serve as a comprehensive reference for developing falconry in its diverse aspects and as a guiding code for the UAE Falcons Federation across its championships, initiatives and programmes.
His Highness affirmed that the launch of the Charter reflects pride in the enduring legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and his visionary approach to preserving falconry, fostering its authentic values and highlighting its status as a symbol of national identity.
“Zayed's legacy is a trust we safeguard and a set of values we pass on to our generations, so that the UAE remains a leader in this time-honoured sport,” His Highness said.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed noted that the 50th anniversary of the 1976 conference is a momentous occasion to recall the efforts and pioneering initiatives of the Founding Father, which solidified the UAE's historic standing in falconry and laid firm foundations for preserving its heritage and strengthening its presence regionally and internationally.
His Highness said the Charter provides a reference framework rooted in the approach Sheikh Zayed exemplified in caring for falcons, protecting the environment and passing falconry knowledge on to successive generations, while instilling the values of fair competition, responsibility, respect and dialogue between peoples and cultures.
Key priorities
The Charter comprises 10 core principles, placing compassion for the falcon and its safety at the forefront. They also underline the importance of safeguarding heritage and transferring knowledge and expertise across generations, promoting falconry's human and civilisational role in bringing peoples together, protecting falcons and biodiversity, and upholding sporting integrity and fair competition.
The principles also emphasise sustained efforts to document traditional practices and knowledge, strengthen transparency and accountability within falconry institutions, open participation to all segments of society, harness scientific research and modern technologies to develop practices, and advance falcon racing in line with unified international sporting standards, reinforcing the UAE's global leadership in the time-honoured sport.
To put the Charter into practice, the UAE Falcons Federation will draw on the principles laid down by the Founding Father in developing its championships and initiatives throughout the 2026–2027 sporting season. The focus will be on preparing young falconers, promoting compassion for the falcon, developing the competition system, broadening participation and preserving the sport's authenticity while enhancing its sustainability.
His Excellency Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad Al Nahyan, Vice President of the IFFSR and Vice President of the UAE Falcons Federation, stated that the launch of the Charter is an important step towards consolidating the authentic values and concepts on which the sport is based.
He noted that translating the principles outlined in the Charter into objectives for championships and initiatives will help maximise their impact and elevate competition protocols, including among falconers, organising and technical committees, and work teams.
His Excellency explained that the values enshrined in the Charter, including integrity, transparency, compassion for the falcon and responsibility towards nature, are in harmony with the approach that the UAE leadership, under President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is keen to instil across diverse fields.
He emphasised the importance of drawing on the principles set out in the Charter to develop falcon racing according to unified international sporting standards, further strengthening the UAE's global leadership in the sport.
He added that remaining true to Sheikh Zayed's vision also places a responsibility on seasoned falconers to pass on their knowledge and experience, teaching younger generations patience, integrity and gentleness alongside the skills imparted during training, so that they continue to enrich the sport's heritage and stay true to its ancient traditions.
The ‘Sheikh Zayed Principles of Falconry’ document is set to be presented at the upcoming meeting of the Board of Directors of the International Federation for Falconry Sports and Racing (IFFSR). The Board will consider adopting its 10 principles and drawing on them when devising strategies and initiatives to develop falconry sports internationally.
The initiative aims to unify visions and practices among member bodies and reinforce the authentic values of falconry as a shared human heritage.
Defining factor
His Excellency Rashid bin Markhan, Secretary General of the IFFSR and Secretary General of the UAE Falcons Federation, said the launch of the Charter under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed marked a moment of great pride. He affirmed that it represents an important reference point for the Federation's future plans, while ensuring that falconry's rich heritage remains a defining factor in shaping sporting and organisational development.
Bin Markhan affirmed the Federation's commitment to embodying the Charter's principles in the events and activities of the 2026–2027 season, particularly youth development programmes, thereby reinforcing falconry ethics and fostering a spirit of cooperation among participants.
“We believe the success of the season lies in the impact it leaves in preserving this heritage, passing on its knowledge and developing its practice, continuing the approach established by the Founding Father and strengthening the UAE's standing in falconry sports,” he said.
He noted that youth initiatives, including ‘Falconer of the Future – Rabbib Tairak’, put the principle of sharing falconry knowledge between generations into practice. The initiative combines skill, compassion for the falcon and respect for traditional training methods, while drawing on science and modern technology to broaden opportunities for universal participation and support the sport's sustainability.
Season highlights
The UAE Falcons Federation's 2026–2027 calendar of championships and initiatives opens with preliminary Talwah (lure) races ahead of the falcon racing seasons in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Races over 300 metres will take place from 4 to 7 November 2026, followed by 400-metre races from 18 to 23 November.
The Federation will then participate in the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition in Al Ain from 25 to 29 November.
The Kingdom of Bahrain will host the second edition of the Emirates Falcon Racing International Cup from 2 to 5 December, while Dubai will stage the UAE Falcons Federation Cup from 7 to 14 December and the IFFSR Cup on 18 and 19 December.
Competitive events will continue in Dubai with the Fazza Falcon Racing Cup on 12 January 2027, before the season concludes on 14 January with the National Production Shield falcon racing rounds.
The ‘Sheikh Zayed Principles of Falconry’ Charter
The Charter is founded on 10 core principles:
Compassion for the falcon: Compassion for the falcon is a non-negotiable foundation of falconry. Its dignity and safety come before any competitive or commercial goal.
Preserving heritage: The heritage of our forefathers is the true guarantee that the knowledge of falconry lives on across generations, preserving a national and cultural identity that must pass intact to those who follow us.
Building bridges between peoples: Falconry is a universal human language and a bridge of communication, friendship and cooperation between peoples and cultures. It is an open heritage, cultural and sporting umbrella that cannot be confined to a single identity.
Protecting falcons and biodiversity: Protecting falcons and conserving their natural habitats is an irrevocable commitment. Preserving ecological balance and biodiversity is essential to the continuity of falconry and its legacy for future generations.
Fair competition and sporting integrity: One's word governs every race. Fair competition and sporting integrity extend the honour of the word for which falconers are known, and no victory has value without honesty and fairness.
Documenting traditional knowledge: Documenting the oral knowledge and traditional practices of falconry is a national responsibility. Protecting this heritage from being lost is a duty to our history and a right of future generations.
Transparency and accountability: Falconry institutions are committed to the highest standards of transparency, disclosure and accountability. International trust in this system can only be built on sound governance, clear management and institutional responsibility.
Participation for all: The UAE is a home for falconry and an arena open to all, men and women, young and experienced, united by their passion and given fair and equal opportunities to take part and excel.
Science, research and technology: Science, research and modern technology are pillars of falconry's future. They must be used to develop traditional practices, preserve this heritage and strengthen its sustainability for people, the falcon and nature.
UAE's global leadership: The UAE's global leadership in falcon sports is a responsibility before it is an achievement. It is sustained only by developing falcon racing to unified international standards and an ethical value system that reinforces responsibility and respects nature.