Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammad Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, has been making waves on social media since several years. Boasting over 12.6 million followers on Instagram and inspiring numerous fan pages from devoted followers, Sheikh Hamdan is considered one of the most eligible princes in the world. His Instagram posts show a world beyond his image as a wealthy future ruler, revealing a charitable, avid sportsman with a flair for poetry.
The jet-setting royal has been on a well-documented expedition of the globe, simultaneously fueling our wanderlust in the process with the jaw-dropping images he routinely shares on his Instagram account. From exploring off-road trekking in Tanzania to exploring unique Mongolian gastronomy, the Crown Prince of Dubai’s social media feed is a virtual look into all of the beauty the world has to offer. Most recently, the Crown Prince of Dubai Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum arrived in Uzbekistan and shared several pictures from a falcon-flying session on Wednesday.
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What Exactly Is He Doing In Central Asia?
From the photographs he posted, one can see that the prince visited the reserve for breeding and conservation of falcons in Navoi region. The center was created in 2008 at the initiative of the Emir of Dubai, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Over the years of its existence, the employees of the center have released about 10 thousand falcons into the wild.
As unconventional as the destination may seem, Central Asia is actually a highly-favored location for Middle Eastern royalty and lovers of falconry. In fact, Uzbekistan has for years offered a unique service to avid falconers by allowing hunting in the wild, which could explain the series of images of the Saker falcon posted on the young royal’s Instagram account. The timing makes sense too. In the UAE, hunting season kicks off in October, when the majestic birds from Iran and Pakistan start migrating south for the winter.
The Crown Prince is known to be an avid lover of the majestic bird, which is the national emblem of the UAE. In the early 2000s, the young royal joined forces with the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Centre (HHC) to introduce the Fazza Championship for Falconry in a bid to revive the ancient sport. The late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who was an avid conservationist, imparted that the sport of falconry teaches patience and strength. This is certainly true, as training a falcon to catch prey can take up to three months, with the falconer and falcon developing a uniquely strong bond as they often spend night and day together, informs Vogue Arabia.
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