Pigeon enthusiasts in the city have access to well-bred birds that are prepared for stormy weather. How about Pigeon racing? We’ve heard of competitive races for vehicles, horses, and even camels. It’s a long-established activity that a determined group of people is bringing back to life in Dubai. As they are known, “Pigeon Fanciers,” they claim that this pastime offers them great delight, is inexpensive, and is simple enough for a beginner to try.
You can apply for a pigeon racing license in UAE
The distance of the race varies from 100 kilometers to 500 kilometers due to weather and geographic conditions.
All participating pigeons are carried in special cars to a location in a place called Al Ain or even Oman where they are released and actually fly back to their owners in Dubai according to a schedule that is informed well in advance.
Pigeon racing, for me, provides a delight that no other sport can. Besides the race itself, caring for and preparing them is a very joyful process. Of course, a sportsman wants to win.”Fathy remarks with a smile on his face. His family supports his love for the sport and is equally proud of his priceless possessions.
He purchases his racing champions only after thinking carefully. He responds quietly, “I’ve always believed that quality matters more than quantity. His belief is understandable given that racing pigeons are considered based on the strength of their wings rather than their color and shape as is the case with birds used for displays.
Racing pigeons have pedigree certificates and can be purchased for as little as Dh200, according to Fathy. Since pigeons in Dubai must be able to tolerate humidity, sandstorms, and even light rain, he continues, “we are lucky that we have access to a collection of high-quality bred pigeons.
To get young pigeons ready for the racing season at the end of the year now is a good time to start teaching them to fly large distances.
A beginner can begin with only 20 birds. Their stay doesn’t require much space, and the real maintenance costs no more than Dh150 each month, according to Fathy. A unique link forms between the fancier and the birds since quality time must be spent training them.
The birds need to see where they are going, so I teach them twice a day before the sun sets. I’ll begin instructing them to fly over short distances by the end of the month till they can fly independently for a longer distance which is required for the races.” Says Fathy.
One can get a pigeon racing license in Dubai without any issues. He is also pleased to help individuals in learning the skills necessary to become fanciers because, like the majority of fanciers worldwide, he wants more people to enjoy the joy of pigeon racing. For individuals interested in following this passion, Fathy additionally promises to help in locating high-quality birds at reasonable costs.
