The footage shows Fazza enjoying a day in Uzbekistan. From enjoying a meal with such gusto to exploring a reserve for breeding and conservation of falcons and showing off his falconry skills, the Crown Prince is seen having a whale of a time.
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.
The Crown Prince is known to be an avid lover of the falcon, 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.
A great deal of importance is placed on these birds – so much so that Abu Dhabi is home to the world’s largest and most advanced falcon hospital, with a museum dedicated to falcons. HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, launched a multi-million dollar initiative in April to help prevent the endangered animals from being killed by electrical power lines. Additionally, the United Arab Emirates boasts the largest, most diverse, and well-funded wildlife conservation and environmental protection program in the region.
