Book fair turns venue for celebrating Arabian racing

Shaikh Sultan Bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board at Abu Dhabi Authority for Tourism and Culture and Chairman of Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC), visited the Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival's stand at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair in Abu Dhabi yesterday and penned a thought for Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, in a copy of a book named after the racing festival. The gesture was in appreciation of the festival's success in furthering purebred Arabian racing's popu Lara Sawaya, director of the racing festival, presented a memento to Shaikh Sultan thanking him for all the support that the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority has extended to the festival's activities since 2009. The book encapsulates the activities of the Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival, including the races held in the UAE, the US and Europe, with full information on the events accompanied by eye-catching pictures. Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and Shaikh Shakboot Bin Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, one of the UAE's top showjumpers, also visited the stall and received copies of the book. "This is the first ever book on a series of races and the first in the world on purebred Arabian racing. It was very well received when we showcased it at the HH Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival's Darley Awards held in Houston earlier this month," Sawaya said. "We had a lot of VIPs and envoys from various countries visit the stand. The book is nearly 300 pages and is in English. We will soon be releasing the book in Arabic. The foreword for the book is written by Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs." The racing festival is organised by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and coordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council in association with Emirates Arabian Horse Society and IFAHR, supported by General Authority for Youth and Sports and Fegentri, with Emirates Airline as the official carrier. It is sponsored by Invest AD, Al Rashid Investment, Areej Al Ameerat, Mauzan, Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, the UAE's General Women's Union, the Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2012, Wathba Stud Farm and Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club.