Liwa Festival 2026 Hosts Falcon Racing With Elite Competitors

Liwa International Festival 2026 will officially begin its much-awaited Falcon Racing competition tomorrow, bringing together elite falconers, heritage enthusiasts, and cultural fans in a thrilling display of skill, tradition, and modern organisation. This event combines centuries-old Emirati heritage with advanced electronic timing systems, ensuring fair and competitive races.

The festival’s Falcon Racing is one of the most prestigious heritage events, reflecting the deep bond between Emiratis and the traditional sport of falconry. Competitors demonstrate their expertise in training falcons, familiarising them with the race track, and applying the classic “Da’wa” calling technique to guide their birds at the finish line. The competition highlights both precision and tradition, attracting participants and audiences from across the region.

The races will be held over three days. The first day will feature the Owners’ Category (Farakh), allowing each owner to enter up to four falcons, with one bird competing per heat. The heats will include categories such as Gyr Shaheen, Gyr Peregrine, Gyr Qarmoosha, and Gyr Taba’a. The second day is dedicated to the Professionals’ Category (Farakh), while the third day will conclude with the Jernas Category, promising highly competitive races and thrilling finishes.

The race distance has been set at 400 metres. Participants are required to arrive at the venue by 7:00 a.m., with the official start scheduled for 8:00 a.m. Organisers have emphasised safety, fairness, and adherence to heritage standards, ensuring that every detail is professionally managed. Registration has been closed according to the approved schedule, and a draw for the heats has been completed. Each heat will host a maximum of 50 falcons to maintain fairness and healthy competition.

The Falcon Racing competition continues to attract strong public interest, not only as a sporting event but also as a cultural celebration. It plays a crucial role in preserving Emirati traditions, passing heritage knowledge to younger generations, and reinforcing the importance of falconry in national culture. Spectators can expect an exciting display of speed, skill, and tradition as the festival kicks off its much-awaited competition.