Schoolchildren Explore Heritage At ADIHEX 2026 In Abu Dhabi
A Day Built Around Emirati Heritage
Abu Dhabi schoolchildren toured the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX) on 2 September 2026, taking part in a day of falconry, equestrian and cultural displays organised around Emirati heritage. The visit formed part of the 23rd edition of the exhibition, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of the Emirates Falconers' Club.
The exhibition runs from 28 August to 6 September 2026 at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi under the theme "A Legacy of Pride," organised by ADNEC Group, a Modon company, in partnership with the Emirates Falconers' Club. It is the largest edition in the event's history, extended to 10 days for the first time since ADIHEX launched in 2003, and opened with a record 2,405 exhibitors from 71 countries across 107,000 square metres. The 10-day run gave space to a packed calendar of falconry, equestrian and cultural programming, with exhibitors and visitors spread across the halls throughout the day and into the evening.
Several Abu Dhabi schools arranged trips for pupils to the exhibition halls, where they learned about falconry, equestrianism and the Arabian Saluki alongside interactive workshops. The visits were framed as a way of strengthening pupils' knowledge of national heritage and connecting younger generations with Emirati identity and culture. Pupils moved between displays and workshops over the course of the day, taking in demonstrations of falconry and equestrianism as part of the wider programme aimed at bringing heritage themes to life for younger visitors.
Falconry Displays Anchor The Day
Equestrian and falconry displays anchored the day's programme, with Arabian horse shows and simulated falconry hunts running alongside equestrian performances throughout the afternoon. In the evening, the exhibition staged a traditional Emirati display of horses and flags, pairing equestrian skill with a broader celebration of heritage. Together, the afternoon and evening programming gave pupils a chance to see both the sporting and the ceremonial sides of the same heritage disciplines within a single visit.
The Arabian Saluki, a breed closely tied to the region's hunting traditions, featured prominently again, drawing crowds throughout the afternoon keen to learn about its characteristics and its place in Emirati heritage. The agenda also included K9 police dog displays, with demonstrations of how guard and police dogs are trained to follow commands, alongside a showcase of dogs rescued in the UAE.
Organisers built inclusive activities into the day's schedule, including pony rides offered to People of Determination and other visitors. The National Academy for Childhood Development is also taking part in ADIHEX for a second consecutive year, running an educational stand themed around Emirati culture and the UAE's natural environments. The stand gave visiting pupils a further point of contact with heritage themes beyond the live arena displays, extending the day's educational programming into a more hands-on, stand-based format.
The day's programme extended beyond Emirati heritage to wider world cultures, with a drumming and dance performance featuring African acrobatics drawing an afternoon crowd. Japanese drummers performed later in the day, part of a wider cultural programme at this year's exhibition.
Workshops and educational sessions ran alongside the live shows, including a youth-focused session exploring the relationship between people, nature and traditional timekeeping through wood and natural materials. The session also touched on biophilic design, the use of wood, water, light and natural surroundings in architecture to foster calm and focus.
Evening activities included further equestrian shows and displays of riders' skills in various formats, together with a question-and-answer session on endurance racing and a prize draw announcement. Between the daytime school visits and the evening programme of shows, talks and draws, ADIHEX 2026 packed a wide spread of heritage and sporting content into a single day of its ten-day run.
ADIHEX 2026 Caps A Record Edition
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, visited the 23rd edition of the exhibition during its run at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi. The visit added to a programme that organisers have positioned as a platform for heritage preservation, cultural exchange and family-oriented entertainment across its ten days.
Across the schools, workshops and evening displays, the day's activities reflected the wider aims organisers have set out for this edition: pairing heritage preservation with cultural exchange and entertainment for families, spanning falconry, equestrianism, cultural performances and educational programming across the exhibition's ten days. With the exhibition's record exhibitor count and its first-ever 10-day run providing the backdrop, the school visits stood as one strand among many in a schedule built to carry Emirati heritage themes through to a younger generation of visitors.