The first-ever Middle Eastern performance of the British Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment’s ‘The Musical Ride’ team leads the lineup of this year’s Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX) which opens today (Wednesday, September 30, 2009) and runs until October 3, 2009 at Halls 7 through 12 of the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).

The Musical Ride consists of 28 horses that perform traditional equine routines while accompanied by music. The animals are handled by 36 soldiers dressed in British ceremonial uniform. The riding team will introduce a special 5-minute feature dedicated to the people of the UAE which will be executed daily throughout the exhibition’s four-day run. Other ADIHEX highlights include equestrian shows and horse auctions; falconry auctions and beauty championships; a culture and heritage village; folklore dances; and art, poetry, handicraft and coffee brewing competitions.

“Over the years ADIHEX has become an important occasion to showcase the UAE’s cultural heritage. The inclusion of performances by the oldest royal regiment in the British army reflects the rapidly growing international appeal of this event as a premier hunting and equestrian show. It also indicates Abu Dhabi’s coming of age as a regional and global exhibition hub,” commented Simon Horgan, CEO, Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company.

The 8th edition of ADIHEX returns to ADNEC, the most modern and flexible purpose-built exhibition and convention facility in the Middle East. Conveniently located near Abu Dhabi’s international airport and city centre, ADNEC is rapidly evolving into one of the emirate’s top revenue generators. The venue welcomed 1.65 million guests in 2008 and is expected to draw around 1.85 million visitors to its 55,000 sqm of interconnected exhibition space this year. ADNEC is the centerpiece of the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company’s AED 8 billion Capital Centre micro-city project.

Since its introduction in 2002, ADIHEX has gained international acclaim for its depiction of the Emirates’ traditional values as reflected by activities such as horsemanship, falconry, hunting, fishing and the arts and crafts. The 2008 edition welcomed 500 exhibitors from 35 different countries and around 95,000 visitors from around the world. This year’s show is organised by the Emirates Falconers’ Club in collaboration with Turret Middle East and supported by Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage. ADIHEX opens to the trade and the public daily from 11 am to 10 pm.