Falcon Racing Competition Set to Begin at Liwa International Festival 2026
AL DHAFRA, 14th December, 2025 — The highly anticipated Falcon Racing competition is set to commence tomorrow as part of the Liwa International Festival 2026, drawing participation from an elite group of falconers and heritage enthusiasts. The event captures the spirit of authenticity while leveraging advanced organisation and modern electronic timing systems.
Renowned as one of the festival’s most prominent events, Falcon Racing holds deep cultural significance, representing the strong bond between Emiratis and the traditional sport of falconry. The contest demands a high level of skill in training falcons, acquainting them with the race track, and skillfully applying the heritage “Da’wa” calling technique at the finish line.
Spanning three days, the competition will open on Monday with the Owners’ Category (Farakh), wherein each owner may enter up to four falcons, with a single falcon competing in each heat. The heats include the categories: Gyr Shaheen, Gyr Peregrine, Gyr Qarmoosha, and Gyr Taba’a.
The second day will highlight the Professionals’ Category (Farakh), followed by the prestigious Jernas Category on the third and concluding day, amid expectations of highly competitive performances.
With a race distance set at 400 metres, participants are required to arrive at the race venue by 7:00 a.m., and the official start is scheduled for 8:00 a.m.. The organising committee reaffirms its commitment to the highest standards of safety and organisation, reflecting best practices in heritage competitions.
All preparations have been completed, as the organising committee confirmed, noting that registration closed per the official timeline, the draw for the heats has taken place, and a strict cap of 50 falcons per heat is imposed to guarantee fairness and healthy competition.
Falcon Racing continues to command strong public interest as a central fixture of the Liwa International Festival, underscoring its role in preserving cultural traditions and passing on this rich heritage to future generations.
Team V.4-EM-UAE
