The Emirates News Agency reported that vintage cars from the 1930s and 1940s stole the show at the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition. These classic vehicles formed a central part of the heritage displays at the event held at ADNEC Centre. Organizers integrated the automobile exhibit alongside traditional sectors to illustrate historical aspects of regional culture and innovation.
A Zawya press release stated that the 21st edition of ADIHEX drew 347481 visitors over nine days representing a 205 percent increase from the previous year. The exhibition featured 1742 companies and brands from 65 countries including 14 that participated for the first time. Exhibition figures show the total surface area expanded by 34 percent to more than 87000 square metres to accommodate the growth.
ADNEC Group in strategic partnership with the Emirates Falconers’ Club organized the event under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The organizers reported that 435 national companies took part accounting for 68 percent of all exhibitors and highlighting local industry development. A post-event assessment found that national participation had risen substantially since the exhibition’s launch in 2003 when only 40 companies attended the inaugural edition.
The exhibition encompassed 11 sectors covering falconry equestrian activities hunting fishing camping and arts and crafts according to ADNEC Group. Event data places the value of 325 falcons sold at auctions during the show at AED 5.4 million while 302 additional falcons earned a special badge. Organizers announced that ADIHEX also established a Guinness World Record for the largest falcon burqa with a diameter of 1.95 metres.
More than 1036 media professionals attended the exhibition marking a 108 percent rise from the year before a press release from the organizers indicated. Independent surveys by GRS placed visitor satisfaction at 4.2 out of 5 exceeding the global industry average of 4.0. The same assessment found that 92 percent of visitors observed qualitative improvements in organization compared with prior editions.
