Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad bin Hamdan Al Nahyan has been appointed Chairman of the Emirates Falcons International Cup, a newly created international falconry championship making its debut in December 2025 in Kuwait. The appointment was announced on October 20, 2025, by Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and President of both the International Federation for Falconry Sports and Racing and the UAE Falcons Federation. The inaugural competition represents a strategic expansion of UAE-led falconry governance, positioning the sport on the global competitive stage for the first time under a championship bearing the UAE's name while held beyond its borders.
The appointment came alongside the formation of a Supreme Organising Committee for the championship, chaired by Rashid bin Markhan, Secretary General of both the International Federation for Falconry Sports and Racing and the UAE Falcons Federation. Sheikh Ahmed expressed confidence in both leaders to deliver a landmark opening edition. No external search firm was involved in the appointment process; rather, it flowed from the existing governance structure of UAE-led falconry institutions. The championship will be held annually across different continents starting with the 2025-2026 season, with hosting rights awarded competitively to member nations of the International Federation demonstrating the highest readiness. The inaugural event in Kuwait will feature seven races across multiple falcon categories, with prize money totalling AED500,000.
Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad brings deep expertise in international falconry governance, serving as Vice President of both the International Federation for Falconry Sports and Racing and the UAE Falcons Federation since their respective establishments. His background reflects a career within UAE heritage sports administration, where he has been instrumental in developing competitive falconry platforms. He previously served as Vice Chairman of the Board of the UAE Falcons Federation when it was formally constituted in 2021, and has participated in board meetings overseeing federation expansion and membership growth. His responsibilities have encompassed approving new member entities, evaluating international falconry standards, and coordinating with bilateral partners. Most recently, in early 2026, he presided over IFFSR Board meetings expanding federation membership to 25 entities globally and participated in forging cooperation agreements with major sporting bodies including the Masters Games Abu Dhabi 2026 organising committee.
The Emirates Falcons International Cup itself represents an institutional initiative launched by the UAE Falcons Federation in August 2025 to globalize heritage falcon racing. The championship was established under the directives of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister, and the patronage of Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed. The event aims to preserve and elevate falcon racing as a professional international sport while reinforcing the UAE's position as a global hub for falconry governance. The International Federation for Falconry Sports and Racing, which the UAE established in December 2022 with headquarters in Dubai, now coordinates falconry standards across 25 member entities spanning four continents, having grown from 15 founding members at its inception.
The appointment suggests the UAE intends to institutionalize its leadership in heritage sports administration by assigning senior governance roles to experienced figures within the existing system rather than recruiting external talent. Sheikh Zayed's elevation to championship chairman reflects confidence in internal continuity and deepens the UAE's control over the sport's global competitive architecture. The timing, with the championship debuting just weeks after announcement, indicates preparations were advanced before the formal appointment. By positioning the competition as annually rotating among member nations while channelling all organizing authority through UAE-resident officials, the appointment reinforces the federation model that allows Dubai and Abu Dhabi to maintain strategic influence over global falconry governance without direct operational control of each event.
