Arabian horse fraternity attend Festival’s
Suhoor gathering

Abu Dhabi, UAE - Under the directives of HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, the management of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival marked the Holy Month of Ramadan with a Suhoor gathering for all persons involved in the Arabian horse including owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys who participated in the recent World Arabian Horse Racing Conference in Rome, Italy.

The event was attended by HE Saqr Al Raisi, UAE ambassador to Italy and a number of the UAE ambassadors besides Adnan Sultan, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Ms Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Chairperson of the International Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA), Chairperson of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR), Dr. Abdulla El Reyes, Director of the National Archives, Sultan Al Aouda, representative of the National Feed and Flour Production and Marketing Company, main partner of the Festival and Musallam Al Ameri, Director of Al Jazeera 1 & 2 Stables and Al Wathba Farm in France, Essam Abdulla, Director of the Emirates Arabian Horse Society, Ahmed Saeed Al Marzouqi, representing the Judiciary Department and other representatives of the sponsors of the festival.

Sawaya said the gathering has been staged under the directives of HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan after the end of the 7th conference to bring together all the Arabian racing community to strengthen the ties between them pointing out that the invitation was equally directed to the flat-racing and endurance fraternities. She thanked HH Sheikh Mansoor for his unlimited support for the Arabian horse in general and the Festival in particular that has eventually culminated in the international popularity of the festival and its far reaching activities which cover the six continents of the world under the slogan of One World, 6 Continents Abu Dhabi The Capital.

The UAE ambassador to Italy, HE Saqr Al Raisi, congratulated His Highness the President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his brother His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and Their Highnesses the Members of the Supreme Council and Rulers of the other emirates on the holy month of Ramadan and thanked His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs for his directives to support the Arabian horse around the globe. He also thanked Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, Supreme President of the Family Development Foundation (FDF) and Head of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, Mother of the UAE for her support and contributions to the success of the Festival.

Essam Abdulla thanked HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his support for the Arabian horse which has greatly helped the society in carrying out its duties saying that currently an estimated 13,000 Arabian horses are in training and this puts the UAE at the top of the Arab countries. “UAE exports around 500 horses every year to the Gulf and Europe as well as to other parts of the world while it imports 250-300 horses as per the official records of the society,” he said.

“Saudi Arabia comes second with 11 to 12 thousand horses. The breeding ranges between 700 to 800 foals in the UAE,” he added.

Dr. Abdulla El Reyes, Sultan Al Aouda, Adnan Sultan and Musallam Al Ameri thanked HH Sheikh Mansoor and said the Festival and Purebred Arabian racing had progress due to the support he extended.

All guests were treated to a feast and there was also a draw with prizes on offer.

The HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is sustained by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and coordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council, with National Feed and Flour Production and Marketing Co. LLC as associate sponsors, IPIC as Strategic Partner, The  National Archives as the official partner and Emirates airline as the official carriers, in cooperation with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR, Emirates Arabian Horse Society, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare  and sponsored by Al Aweer Stables, Ayadii LLC, Global United Veterinary Services LLC, Bloom, Petromal, Rise General Trading Co. LLC, Hayatna, Wathba Stallions, Abu Dhabi Falconers Club, Emirates Falconers Club,  Mohamed Bin Zayed Falconry and Desert Physiognomy School, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Omeir Travels, Dr Nader Saab Switzerland, Laboratories Fadia Karam Cosmetics, YAS Channel, Racing Post, Paris Turf,  Al Wathba Centre, the UAE's General Women's Union, The Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2016, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Anantara Eastern Mangroves Spa and Resort.

Source: HH SH Mansoor Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival / Satya Narayan
Photos: Morhaf Al Assaf