Al Ain:The inaugural edition of the Arabian Saluki Championship for the 2026-2027 sporting season is scheduled to commence on November 7 in Al Ain, followed by events on November 14 in Al Dhafra. The championship is organized by the Emirates Falconers' Club and the Arabian Saluki Centre in Abu Dhabi.
According to Emirates News Agency, the championship is held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of the Emirates Falconers' Club, and H.H. Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler's Representative in Al Ain Region. It embodies the UAE's efforts to preserve its intangible cultural heritage and develop the Arabian Saluki sport through a professional system for racing, registration, and classification.
The championship aims to support owners and breeders, preserve purebred bloodlines, attract new generations to this authentic heritage sport, and reinforce the UAE's position as a leading center for Arabian Saluki sport. The event will feature a final-race schedule divided into four distance categories speed races, middle-distance, endurance, and stamina races. These races will unfold over ten competitive rounds.
Qualifying races over 1,000 meters will start in Al Ain on November 7 at Al Rawdah Camel Racing Track, with another round in Al Dhafra on November 14. The final is set for November 28 in Al Dhafra. Further qualifying races over longer distances will occur between December and February, culminating in a 2,500-meter stamina race on March 20, 2027, in Al Dhafra.
The championship, launched during the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition, includes the Arabian Saluki Beauty Contest and a simulated hunting competition, showcasing the Saluki's beauty and skills. Majed Ali Al Mansouri, Secretary-General of the Emirates Falconers' Club, expressed gratitude to President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his support of the UAE's cultural heritage.
Al Mansouri also thanked the patrons and collaborating entities, including several regional courts, the Camel Race Association, and Yas TV, for their support. He highlighted the championship's role in developing Arabian Saluki sport and its associated economy, emphasizing the broader impact beyond competition.