HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival’s Year Book launched at AD International Book Fair

HH Sheikh Abdulla Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Lara Sawaya

HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s Year Book for 2015 was launched at the 26th edition of the 2016 Abu Dhabi International Book Fair which opened at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, April 27, 2016.

HH Sheikh Abdulla Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs, accompanied by HH Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, who opened the week-long show, also inaugurated the stand of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Racing Festival.

HH Sheikh Abdulla and HH Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan were received by 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). Ms Sawaya handed over the first set of the Year Books to HH Sheikh Abdulla and HH Sheikh Nahyan and later and they toured the impressive stand which was erected on a space measuring over 80sqm.

The highlight was the launch of the Festival’s 2015 Year Book which is being brought out for the fifth successive year. Written and edited by M. Satya Narayan, former Deputy Editor of Gulf News and an equestrian journalist with nearly three decades of experience, the hard-bound glossy production runs into 380 pages and has captured every moment and event in the Festival’s activities in the year 2015.

In a foreword to the Year Book, HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, said: “This 5th edition of the Festival’s Year Book is a milestone in the path that was laid out for us by our father Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan (May Allah rest his soul in peace).”

HH Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan and Lara Sawaya

“Since 2009, the Festival has been supporting and promoting the growth of Purebred Arabian racing all over the globe and this fifth Year Book is in itself a proud achievement.”

“The Festival’s Endeavour has been to preserve equestrian sport and Arabian racing that has been inherited over generations. We have been taught by Our Father to promote the noble message carried by the Arabian horses and stress the importance of its continuation to future generations. It highlights the long history of equestrianism within the country, and the original values symbolized by Arabian horses,” HH Sheikh Mansoor said.

Commenting on the launch of the 2015 Year Book, Ms Sawaya said: “I don’t think there is any other such publication of any horse race series be it for Thoroughbreds or Purebred Arabian horses. We are very proud and the Festival’s Year Book has been very popular at all the shows and exhibitions we take part in.”

The Festival’s stand at the ADIBF also sports images of the Colosseum Theatre in Rome, the venue of the seventh edition of the World Arabian Horse Racing Conference from May 24 to 30, 2016.

The stand has attracted a large crowd of visitors, thanks to the innovative display of the contents and information on equestrian sport particularly the Arabian horse, the core of activities of the Festival.

Ms. Sawaya said: “This is the fifth straight time for the Festival to establish such strong presence at this Book Fair, thanks to the directives and strong support and backing of HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.” 

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 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