Ahmed Abubaker Al Kindi, director of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, visited the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition on Thursday, where he emphasised the event’s growing significance in promoting UAE traditions internationally. Al Kindi stated that ADIHEX demonstrates year after year that heritage can serve as a form of soft power for the UAE’s cultural presence when it is presented as an integrated system of values, knowledge and skills rather than merely as manifestations or artefacts from the past. The visit aligns with the institute’s ongoing work to exchange expertise with specialised forums dedicated to cultural preservation, according to a Sharjah24 report.
The 23rd edition of ADIHEX, which runs through September 6 at the ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has set new participation records with 2,405 exhibitors and brands from 71 countries. ADNEC Group figures show the exhibition covers 107,000 square metres this year, a 17 percent increase from the previous edition, while the 2025 event drew 379,572 visitors over nine days for a 9.2 percent rise compared with 2024. The gathering features 15 specialised sectors, including four new additions focused on souq, knives, Arabian Saluki and camels alongside its longstanding emphasis on Emirati heritage.
The Sharjah Institute for Heritage celebrated its 11th anniversary in December 2025 with a review of achievements that included the publication of 1,100 specialised titles on cultural studies. A Sharjah24 assessment found the institute maintains extensive partnerships with international universities and research centres while implementing dozens of projects such as Sharjah Heritage Days, the International Narrator Forum and World Heritage Weeks. These initiatives have extended to more than 83 events held inside and outside the country, reinforcing Sharjah’s position as a hub for heritage preservation.
Restoration projects overseen by the institute encompass historical sites across Khorfakkan, Kalba, Dibba Al Hisn and the Heart of Sharjah, along with the development of heritage villages and museums. The body has additionally advanced educational programmes through the International School of Storytelling and initiatives promoting traditional games, according to institute statements. Such efforts complement ADIHEX’s role in bringing authentic Emirati elements to a broad audience of enthusiasts and specialists.
Since its inception in 2003, ADIHEX has expanded dramatically to become a leading platform for heritage protection and cross-cultural dialogue, ADNEC Group data indicates. This year’s programme includes eight falcon auctions that attracted more than 21,795 participants and generated AED 2.199 million in sales, together with AED 1.7 million from camel auctions during the prior edition. The event’s focus on sustainability, innovation and tradition supports broader national objectives to safeguard UAE identity amid global interest.
Al Kindi’s engagement at the exhibition further illustrates the institute’s strategy of leveraging major platforms to highlight heritage as a renewed source of national identity. The Sharjah Institute continues to coordinate with government and private entities on restoration, academic research and public events that reach hundreds of thousands of participants annually. These combined activities contribute to the UAE’s wider cultural landscape, which saw significant museum openings and archaeological discoveries throughout 2025.
