Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center awards champions in grand closing ceremony of Fazza Championships for Falconry

Nokhbah winners awarded AED 500,000 and luxury cars for their superior skills

Dubai, 20 February 2014: Touted to be the most expensive falconry competition in the world, the Fazza Championship for Falconry came to a successful conclusion with two Emirati falconers being crowned Nokbah (Elite Champions) amidst great jubilation and fanfare in Ruwayyah.

The Fazza Championship for Falconry was organised by the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and has witnessed some stiff competition over two months.

Khalifa Bin Mijrin and his brother Hamdan Bin Mijrin were crowned Nokhbah winners in the final contest of the Horr Farakh (younger falcon) and Horr Jirnas (older falcon) categories of the Championship. Each received trophies with AED 500,000 and a Bentley.

Khalifa Bin Mijrin, who also headed the NAS (Nad Al Sheba) team comprising four falconers said: “It is an honour to be crowned Nokhbah champion of the Fazza Championships. It has been 6 long months of hard work and ensuring that the falcons were healthy and ready to compete.

“These Championships have made professionals of the amateur falconers and the Hamdan Heritage Center has played a key role in reviving this traditional sport in the region. I look forward to returning to participate in my individual capacity and as a member of the Nad Al Sheba (NAS) team in the next edition of the Fazza Championships.”

Hamdan Bin Mijrin, who was a first time Nokbah winner, was thrilled with the results. “I have been practicing falconry for nearly 20 years now and it is great to win such a prestigious contest and stand alongside my brother. The falcons have performed spectacularly despite the unfavorable weather conditions this year and they will have sufficient time to rest over the moulting period between now and September.”

Souad Darwish, Director of the Fazza Championship for Falconry, who has been overseeing the successful run of the championship, said the competition had witnessed a 55 per cent increase in participation since its previous edition.

She commented: “Fazza initiated this Championship to revive the traditional sport of falconry and we overcame several obstacles to achieve this. We have also seen some exotic never seen before breeds of falcons competing with their falconers in this edition of the championship.

“The Hamdan Heritage Center is proud to have witnessed such a great contest of falconry and we would especially like to thank Dubai Police for their support in maintaining order at the event.”

The Fazza Championship for Falconry commenced in December 2013 in Ruwayyah and has since invited participation from nearly 3000 falconers from across the GCC region that have competed in categories, including Sheikhs, General Public, Juniours and Khaleejis.