• Menu
  • Menu
  • News
  • Subscribe now
    Digital subscription Print subscription
  • Logout
Digital subscription
Print subscription
Trending
UAE holidays 2021 Golf in UAE Expo 2020 The Kurator Year of the 50th
  • Latest News
  • UAE
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Government
    • Year of the 50th
      • News
      • UAE's Progress
      • Photos
      • Videos
      • People
      • Culture
      • Milestones
      • Future
    • Health
      • Better Health
      • Why Worry
    • Transport
    • Science
    • Weather
    • Reader Complaint
    • Ask the Law
    • Games
    • UAE's Hope Probe
  • Living In UAE
    • Visa+Immigration
    • Housing
    • Phone+Internet
    • Banking
    • Transport
    • Health
    • Education
    • Relocate
    • Ask Us
    • Safety+Security
  • UAE Success Stories
  • Special Reports
  • Business
    • Banking
    • Aviation
    • Property
      • Cityscape
    • Energy
    • Analysis
    • Tourism
    • Markets
    • Retail
    • Company Releases
    • Gulf
  • Your Money
    • Saving and Investment
    • Budget Living
    • Taxation
    • Expert Columns
    • Community Tips
    • Cryptocurrency
  • Food
    • Cooking and Cuisines
    • Guide to Cooking
  • Games
    • Daily Crossword
    • Weekend Crossword
    • Sudoku
    • Word Search
    • Play
  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy & Baby
    • Learning & Play
    • Child Health
    • For Mums & Dads
    • Ask Us
    • Games
  • World
    • Gulf
      • Bahrain
      • Kuwait
      • Oman
      • Qatar
      • Saudi
      • Yemen
      • Games
    • Mena
    • Europe
      • Brexit
    • Africa
    • Americas
      • US Presidential Elections 2020
    • Asia
      • India
      • Pakistan
      • Philippines
    • Oceania
    • Offbeat
    • Court and Crime
    • Coronavirus
    • Infographics
    • Games
  • Photos
    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Readers' Photos
    • Lifestyle
    • Business
    • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Op-Eds
    • Letters
    • Off the Cuff
    • Cartoons
    • From the Editors
  • Sport
    • Tokyo Olympics
    • UAE Sport
    • Horse Racing
      • Dubai World Cup
    • Cricket
      • IPL
        • Chennai
        • Delhi
        • Punjab
        • Kolkata
        • Mumbai
        • Rajasthan
        • Bangalore
        • Hyderabad
        • Schedule
        • Live Scores
        • Point Table
        • Top Scorers
      • ICC
    • Football
    • Motorsport
    • Tennis
      • Dubai Duty Free Tennis 2020
    • Golf in UAE
      • UAE
      • World
      • Photos & Videos
      • Course Reviews
      • Eagle Eye
      • Learn to Play
      • Gear
    • Rugby
  • Entertainment
    • Hollywood
    • Bollywood
    • Pakistani Cinema
    • South Indian
    • Arab Celebs
    • Music
    • TV
    • Books
    • Theatre
    • Arts+Culture
  • Expo 2020
    • News
    • Photos
    • Pavilions
    • Visit the Expo
    • Experience the UAE
    • Entertainment
    • Videos
  • Going Out
  • Auto
    • News
    • Test Drives
    • Car Culture
    • Auto Care
  • Lifestyle
    • Health+Fitness
    • Community
    • Fashion
  • GN Reach
  • Jobs
  • Tech
    • Electronics
    • Gaming
    • Media
  • Videos
    • How-To
    • Best Of Bollywood
    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Business
    • Sport
    • Community
    • Technology
  • Travel
  • GN Focus
  • The Kurator
    • Share
    • Dare
    • Flair
  • Bayat Chapters
  • Gold-Forex
  • Notifications
  • Gold/Forex
  • Prayer Times
  • Cinema Listing
  • Subscribe to Newsletters
  • About Gulf News
  • Contact us
  • Work with us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Gulf News store
  • Advertise with us
  • Reach by GN
  • GN Focus
  • Gulf News epaper
  • Sitemap
  • Have your say
    • © Al Nisr Publishing LLC 2021. All rights reserved.
    Syrian village trains racing dogs despite war and pandemic

    Photos

    Login / Sign Up
    Logout
    Saturday, September 25, 2021
    Gold / Forex

    Photos News

    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Readers' Photos
    • Lifestyle
    • Business
    • Sports
    All Sections

    Syrian village trains racing dogs despite war and pandemic

    Salukis have been used for hunting for thousands of years in the Middle East

    Published:  November 03, 2020 10:29 AFP  and  Compiled by Nathaniel Lacsina, Senior Web Editor
    1 of 12
    Saluki dogs gallery
    Ad Darbasiyah, Syria: On his motorbike, Mohammed Derbas speeds across a field in northeast Syria, slender Saluki dogs galloping behind. He hopes to export them for racing in the Gulf, despite war and coronavirus. Image Credit: AFP
    2 of 12
    Saluki dogs gallery
    Salukis, cousins of the greyhound, have been used for hunting for thousands of years in the Middle East and are some of the fastest of canines. Saluki dogs were revered in ancient Egypt, being kept as royal pets and mummified after death. Image Credit: AFP
    3 of 12
    Saluki dogs gallery
    The village of Ad-Darbasiyah in Syria's Kurdish-held northeast is famous for breeding and exporting them to the Gulf. The once-lucrative export business, however, was dealt a blow by Syria's conflict since 2011 and this year's coronavirus pandemic that has hampered trade and travel. Image Credit: AFP
    4 of 12
    Saluki dogs gallery
    "Before the conflict, people from the Gulf used to visit us here, in search of the best pedigrees," said 27-year-old Derbas, who says he has been breeding dogs for 15 years. Even though business is slowing, Derbas keeps his 100 dogs in top shape. Image Credit: AFP
    5 of 12
    Saluki dogs gallery
    Tails wagging, they rally around him as soon as he enters the fenced enclosure where they are kept. Some hounds have their ears cropped, while others boast long legs partially dyed orange with henna. Image Credit: AFP
    6 of 12
    Saluki dogs gallery
    To improve their speed and endurance, he straddles his motorbike and sets off at full speed across the arid fields on the outskirts of his village, the pack of dogs darting after him in a cloud of white dust. Image Credit: AFP
    7 of 12
    Saluki dogs gallery
    The breeder used to export between 100 and 150 dogs annually before the conflict, but that figure has dropped to 20 in recent years. Image Credit: AFP
    8 of 12
    Saluki dogs gallery
    Airport closures over COVID-19 have further weakened his trade, especially since his dogs are shipped to the Gulf via Damascus airport. "Because of the novel coronavirus crisis, the airports were closed and our activity stopped," he said. Image Credit: AFP
    9 of 12
    Saluki dogs gallery
    But the breeder expects a timid recovery after flights between Syria and Qatar resumed in late October. In the meantime, he hopes to attract customers through social media. Image Credit: AFP
    10 of 12
    Saluki dogs gallery
    Forty-year-old Jihad Mohammad shares the same passion. "I'm so happy when I go out hunting" with the dogs, he said. Mohammad said what was once a beloved hobby - training dogs to hunt rabbits - had now become a business for many in the area. "I bought puppies and now I'm looking after them and training them to run," he said. Image Credit: AFP
    11 of 12
    Saluki dogs gallery
    Shukri Moussa, 70, said some families in Ad-Darbasiyah started breeding Salukis in earnest around 20 years ago. "Back in the day the Kurds only had them for hunting, but now it's become a trade," he said, sitting under a tree in his courtyard, surrounded by his grandchildren. Image Credit: AFP
    12 of 12
    Saluki dogs gallery
    But he said not everyone welcomed the idea as socially acceptable. "Sometimes it upsets the villagers because they eat the chickens," he said. Image Credit: AFP

    Trending

    • Traders bid for sweetest dates at Saudi festival

      Traders bid for sweetest dates at Saudi festival

    • Update: COVID vaccines for kids 6 months and up
      Explainer

      Update: COVID vaccines for kids 6 months and up

    • Yes, Apple’s iPhone 13 has what it takes

      Yes, Apple’s iPhone 13 has what it takes

    Latest In

    • Expo 2020: Taking action Opportunity Pavilion's focus

    • US, India ties can help solve global challenges: Biden

    • Ryder Cup: US move 3-1 ahead of Europe after foursomes

    • UAE: Three young men killed as their car hits truck

    • US Open champion Raducanu splits with coach

    Go back to top
    Network links:
    • Baby & Child
    • Friday
    • Inside Out
    • Watch Time
    • Wheels
    • getthat
    • GN Tech
    • Jobs
    • About Gulf News
    • Contact us
    • Work with us
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Gulf News store
    • Advertise with us
    • Reach by GN
    • GN Focus
    • Gulf News epaper
    • Sitemap
    • Have your say
    Find us on Social
    © Al Nisr Publishing LLC 2021. All rights reserved.
    This website stores cookies on your computer. These cookies are used to improve your experience and provide more personalized service to you. Both on your website and other media. To find out more about the cookies and data we use, please check out our Privacy Policy.
    Share on Facebook
    Share on Twitter
    Share on Whatsapp
    Share on Mail
    Share on LinkedIn
    Close
    Gulf News

    Get Breaking News Alerts From Gulf News

    We’ll send you latest news updates through the day. You can manage them any time by clicking on the notification icon.

    Subscribe No Thanks
    Continue reading Gulf News
    Dear Reader, please register to read gulfnews.com

    Dear Reader,

    This section is about Living in UAE and essential information you cannot live without.

    Register to read and get full access to gulfnews.com

    Create your account
    or login if you already have one
    First name is required.
    Last name is required.
    Please enter a valid email address.
    Password should have minimum 7 characters with at least one letter and number
    Passwords do not match

    By clicking below to sign up, you're agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

    Login your account
    New to Gulf News? Sign up now
    Please enter your email address.
    Please enter your password.

    Forgot password

    or