"Eagles are done but it's falcons I'm short of," booms Dr Nick Fox into the receiver to an unidentified caller.
It doesn't sound an especially auspicious start to preparations for the third International Festival of Falconry starting today in Al Ain.
But Dr Fox, the director of the festival, and his teams in the UAE and UK have been working on the project for the two years since the last event, in Britain.
And it's not just the birds that have been a logistical challenge. The arrival of falconers from about 80 countries has been no easy feat. Many of them, Dr Fox says, "have never been to a big city, let alone on a plane".
Their tickets had to be paid for (courtesy, like all the show's expenses, of the Emirates Falconry Club), visas organised and hotels booked. But that was just the start.
They are bringing yurts and teepees and will be hosted, along with about 1,000 people, at a desert hunting camp 40 minutes outside of Al Ain.
"If you've just come from minus 30 degrees in Mongolia it takes a little while to acclimatise, so they'll have three days doing excursions and going to the desert camp," Dr Fox says.
"At the camp they will be introduced to the birds and they will prepare their arena events with those birds. And they will be going hunting in traditional manner, riding on camels and hunting for desert hares."
In the arena, where public displays will take place next Thursday, Friday and Saturday, there are no desert hares to kill. Instead, the falconers will simulate hunting in their own countries.
"For example, the UK will simulate catching rabbits," explains the splendidly named Jim Chick, the chairman of Britain's Hawk Board.
"We've … located a ferret in Dubai so we'll borrow that, simulate a rabbit bolting out of a hole and then the goshawk will chase it, either using a radio-controlled rabbit or a rabbit skin attached to a very long line pulled at great speed."
The presence of a ferret shows how few stones remain unturned in the search for the authenticity expected of an Intangible Cultural Heritage approved by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.
Hunting dogs are also rare in the UAE, yet several were found, thanks to expatriate owners.
The Mongolians bring with them unique problems.
"The steppes countries will drag a fox lure behind a horse at full gallop and then the eagle will be able to chase it down the arena and catch it," Mr Chick says.
"There are plenty of horses but they're not the correct type of horses. And you wouldn't believe how difficult it is to take a red fox skin into the UAE. Here in Britain, I could just pick one up off the road.
"All we want to do is drag it behind a horse and it'll be destroyed by an eagle in about three days."
A concurrent three-day conference covers subjects including the vulture crisis in India, traditional Arabian falcon remedies, and the role of women in falconry.
"People like Mary, Queen of Scots, used to fly merlin falcons," says Dr Fox. "And in the old days ladies would even get married carrying one."
Two merlins are among the few raptors that have been flown in from the UK, along with a New Zealand falcon, an Aplomado falcon, a prairie falcon and a gyrfalcon.
Pakistan is importing 30 goshawks and the rest have been borrowed from zoos and private collections in the UAE, as well as a few from the hunting camp of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
So how do the foreign falcons actually get here? Well, you can banish images of cosseted birds sampling the first-class menu on Etihad. "They go on commercial aircraft," says Mr Chick. "They're in the hold - it's the same as if you take your dog out, really." It's not as gloriously wild as the old-fashioned way of gliding into Arabia in pursuit of migrating Houbara bustards, but perhaps less stressful for all concerned.
newsdesk@thenational.ae
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
FIXTURES
Thursday
Dibba v Al Dhafra, Fujairah Stadium (5pm)
Al Wahda v Hatta, Al Nahyan Stadium (8pm)
Friday
Al Nasr v Ajman, Zabeel Stadium (5pm)
Al Jazria v Al Wasl, Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium (8pm)
Saturday
Emirates v Al Ain, Emirates Club Stadium (5pm)
Sharjah v Shabab Al Ahli Dubai, Sharjah Stadium (8pm)
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Company%20Profile
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
FIGHT CARD
Sara El Bakkali v Anisha Kadka (Lightweight, female)
Mohammed Adil Al Debi v Moaz Abdelgawad (Bantamweight)
Amir Boureslan v Mahmoud Zanouny (Welterweight)
Abrorbek Madaminbekov v Mohammed Al Katheeri (Featherweight)
Ibrahem Bilal v Emad Arafa (Super featherweight)
Ahmed Abdolaziz v Imad Essassi (Middleweight)
Milena Martinou v Ilham Bourakkadi (Bantamweight, female)
Noureddine El Agouti v Mohamed Mardi (Welterweight)
Nabil Ouach v Ymad Atrous (Middleweight)
Nouredin Samir v Zainalabid Dadachev (Lightweight)
Marlon Ribeiro v Mehdi Oubahammou (Welterweight)
Brad Stanton v Mohamed El Boukhari (Super welterweight
The biog
Favourite film: The Notebook
Favourite book: What I know for sure by Oprah Winfrey
Favourite quote: “Social equality is the only basis of human happiness” Nelson Madela. Hometown: Emmen, The Netherlands
Favourite activities: Walking on the beach, eating at restaurants and spending time with friends
Job: Founder and Managing Director of Mawaheb from Beautiful Peopl
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
UNSC Elections 2022-23
Seats open:
- Two for Africa Group
- One for Asia-Pacific Group (traditionally Arab state or Tunisia)
- One for Latin America and Caribbean Group
- One for Eastern Europe Group
Countries so far running:
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Ajax v Juventus, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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The%20Specs
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BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
Heather, the Totality
Matthew Weiner,
Canongate
Three ways to get a gratitude glow
By committing to at least one of these daily, you can bring more gratitude into your life, says Ong.
- During your morning skincare routine, name five things you are thankful for about yourself.
- As you finish your skincare routine, look yourself in the eye and speak an affirmation, such as: “I am grateful for every part of me, including my ability to take care of my skin.”
- In the evening, take some deep breaths, notice how your skin feels, and listen for what your skin is grateful for.
Drishyam 2
Directed by: Jeethu Joseph
Starring: Mohanlal, Meena, Ansiba, Murali Gopy
Rating: 4 stars
In numbers
1,000 tonnes of waste collected daily:
- 800 tonnes converted into alternative fuel
- 150 tonnes to landfill
- 50 tonnes sold as scrap metal
800 tonnes of RDF replaces 500 tonnes of coal
Two conveyor lines treat more than 350,000 tonnes of waste per year
25 staff on site
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 2 (Heaton (og) 42', Lindelof 64')
Aston Villa 2 (Grealish 11', Mings 66')
Company%20Profile
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Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Company%20Profile
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
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