The fourth annual Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX) opens today (Wednesday, October 24^th, 2007), with more than 500 exhibitors expected to converge at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) from October 24 - 27, 2007.

The four-day show, which is jointly organised by the Emirates Falconry Club, Turret Middle East and the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH), will showcase the latest firearms and outdoor activity clothing, as well as equipment and services, related to equestrian, hunting, water sports, falconry and safari activities.  Event organisers have confirmed that this year’s exhibition will be 25 per cent larger than last year, with an expanded line-up of camel and horse auctions, saluki shows, art competitions, traditional hunting activities and other contests.  

H.E Ahmad Humaid Al Mazrouie, Managing Director of ADNEC, said:

"We are certainly expecting a huge turnout this year, as high profile exhibitors are coming from around the world to participate in one of the Middle East's most prominent cultural exhibitions.  ADIHEX is an important event for many people as it helps to preserve and promote the rich heritage of the region, and it is a great way to welcome the new exhibition season to Abu Dhabi."

It is the first time that ADIHEX will be held at the 28,000 square-metre new exhibition centre, following the completion of Phase One of the project in February 2007. Phase Two of ADNEC has also recently commenced, with the AED 580 million (USD 158 million) project scheduled for completion in October 2008, which will see the venue double in size to become the Middle East’s largest purpose-built exhibition centre.

The surrounding Capital Centre development is also progressing on schedule, with the last remaining contract for the AED 8 billion development signed last week during the Cityscape exhibition.

'The soaring attendance figures at our recent exhibitions means that we are expecting more than one and a half million visitors to visit our venue in 2008; thereby enlarging the UAE exhibition industry by around 33 per cent," Mazrouie concluded.

ADIHEX is being held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Head of the UAE Falconers Club, and is open daily from 11am to 10 pm.