UAE | Environment

UAE leads initiative to submit falconry file to UN

The UAE is leading an initiative to submit a file to Unesco (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), to register falconry as a form of intangible cultural heritage, it was discussed at a workshop on Wednesday.

  • By Eman Mohammed, Abu Dhabi Deputy Editor
  • Published: 23:40 June 10, 2009
  • Gulf News

Abu Dhabi: The UAE is leading an initiative to submit a file to Unesco (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), to register falconry as a form of intangible cultural heritage, it was discussed at a workshop on Wednesday.

Representatives from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Syria and Morocco attended the two-day workshop organised by Abu Dhabi Authority for culture and heritage (ADACH), Emirates Falconer's Club and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development.

"Leaders see it is better to submit one international file to UNESCO by the Arab states that are famous for preserving intangible cultural heritage along with other countries such as France, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Turkey and others," said Sami Al Masri, Vice Chairman for Culture, Arts and Heritage and Director of the Strategic Planning Department at ADACH.

Falconry is one of the oldest traditional sports in UAE and one of the basic elements of the national identity according to Dr. Nasser Bin Ali Al Hamiri, Director, Intangible Heritage Department, ADACH.

"ADACH put lots of efforts on different levels to encourage countries to join the international submission file for UNESCO" he said in the opening speech.

Dr Al Hamiri told Gulf News: "16 percent of Abu Dhabi's Emirati population are practising falconry, according to a study carried out two years ago by an expert house in the capital."

The international file for falconry and other intangible elements of heritage will be submitted by next August and the approval will be announced in the international conference to be held in Abu Dhabi next September.

The expert meeting discussed the procedure for registering such a historical cultural sport and art, which has been practised for thousands of years in 60 different countries worldwide.

"Around 111 files submitted by different countries were rejected for not meeting UNESCO conditions and for not providing complete and accurate information; some files were rejected for not explaining properly the role of local community in preserving this heritage and passing it onto the next generation," said Dr Ismail Ali El Fhail, Intangible Heritage Expert at ADACH.

The UAE's role

Awadh Ali Saleh, head of the international committee for preserving intangible heritage at UNESCO told Gulf News: "It has been a while since the announcement to start registering the intangible heritage to UNESCO in Turkey conference; since then many countries have started registering their intangible heritage."

Falconry is one of the main intangible heritage aspects that are being preserved in the UAE.

"The UAE was chosen to lead the registration due to its efforts to preserve this traditional practice through the Emirates Falconry Club and ADACH," he said.

"So far more than 15 countries have responded to the initiative and are working together to submit the file soon," he explained.

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