Dubai recently celebrated the pinnacle of traditional sport as His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum attended and presided over the final rounds of the second Fazza Falcons Racing Cup. Held January 19, 2026, at the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center’s Lahbab Track, the prestigious competition showcased the deep cultural roots and contemporary athleticism of falconry in the UAE, drawing elite competitors across multiple categories and underscoring the unwavering leadership support for this crucial heritage sport.
Preserving Tradition Through Elite Competition
The Fazza Falcons Racing Cup is rapidly solidifying its place on the national sports calendar, offering substantial prize money—totaling AED 2.8 million—and attracting top falconers. The 2026 event featured six rigorous, technically demanding rounds designed to test the speed and training of the birds.
Following the intense competition, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum formally recognized the winners across three primary divisions: Sheikhs, Owners, and Open Public. The sophisticated structure of the event required specialized qualification; birds competing in the cup were selected based on their top placements in the Symbol, Golden Hood, and Cash rounds of the preceding Fazza Falconry Hunting Championships.
Key figures attending the final included His Excellency Rashid bin Markhan, Secretary General of both the International Federation for Falconry Sports and Racing and the UAE Falcons Federation, who along with other federation board members, briefed His Highness on the tournament’s advanced qualification standards and its growing regional appeal.
Exceptional Performance Highlights Tournament Success
The results underscored the high caliber of performance, particularly from the F3 Team, which dominated the Sheikhs Category. Khalifa bin Majran, F3 Team leader, expressed immense pride in securing multiple top positions.
In the rigorous Sheikhs Category rounds, F3-S clinched first place in the Pure Jeer and Qarmousha division with the falcon ‘G41,’ recording an impressive 16.121 seconds. The F3 team continued its winning streak in the Jeer Shaheen and Jeer Tibah division when its falcon ‘75’ secured the top spot at 16.31 seconds.
The General Open Category also saw fierce contests. Hamdan Issa Khalfan Kharbash’s falcon ‘Lam Tara’ won the Pure Jeer and Qarmousha category with a time of 16.897 seconds. Meanwhile, Abdullah Khalfan Batti Salem Al Qubaisi showcased outstanding skill, claiming first and third places in the General Open: Jeer Shaheen and Jeer Tibah races.
In the General Owners Category, diverse winners emerged, demonstrating widespread participation in the sport. Abdullah Nasser Salem Saqr Al Mansouri won the Pure Jeer and Qarmousha division, followed closely by Hamad Ali Hamad Al Hafri Al Ketbi, who emerged victorious in the Jeer Shaheen and Jeer Tibah division with his falcon ‘Nashmi.’
Leadership Support Fuels Falconry’s Future
Speaking at the event, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum explicitly linked the tournament’s evolution and increased participation to the enduring support from the Dubai leadership. He credited the strategic guidance of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and the directives issued by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Falcons Federation.
Rashid bin Markhan reinforced this sentiment, thanking His Highness for his commitment to the competitions. Bin Markhan noted that the continued dedication of leaders ensures the Fazza Falcons Racing Cup maintains its prestigious organizational standards and status as a vital component of the UAE’s cultural narrative. This comprehensive support guarantees that falconry—a cornerstone of Emirati identity—will continue to thrive, recording sustained growth and excellence on the international sporting stage.