The 21st Fazza Championship for Youlah kicked off on Friday at the Meydan Fort of the Global Village’s Heritage Village with participants competing not just in the traditional rifle performance but also in other heritage competition, including horse and camel riding, shooting, and traditional poetry.

A total of 16 qualifiers coming from various parts of the UAE and other Arab countries are competing in the elimination round, with the first four Yuweels (Youlah performers) competing in the first episode on Friday.

Youlah is a heritage sport that involves spinning and throwing a replica rifle made of wood and metal plating. It is an integral part of the Emirati culture with its origins in the army as a celebratory jig that was done with real weapons in the past. Participants called ‘Yuweel’ fling the rifle as high as possible before catching it. They are judged based on their footwork and overall fluidity of performance.

Meydan Grand Knight

The grand winner will be hailed as the Meydan Grand Knight. This year, the participants have to undergo five challenges, including youlah, horse and camel riding, Saktoun rifle shooting, and traditional poetry.

The literary and cultural competition is weighted 10%; Saktoun rifle shooting is 20%; horse and camel riding gets 20% each, and Youlah performance is 30%. Aside from judges giving their scores, there will also be public voting after each episode that is broadcast every Friday night Sama TV Dubai and Al-Oula Radio

First episode

In the first episode, the competitors were Maktoum Al Shamsi, Hamdan Farhan Al Ahbabi, Humaid Sultan Al Rezzi and Rashid Bin Harmash Al Mansouri.

Al Shamsi, who just turned 14, is the youngest participant this season. He said he it was a dream come true to qualify for the Youlah championship.  Al Ahbabi, 14, said not only his Youlah skills will develop but his literary talent will also be enhanced this year. Al Rezzi, 17, said his friends motivated him to participate and he wants to show his traditional rifle shooting and horse riding skills. Al Mansouri, 23, is a returning champion and he said he has gained more experience and confidence going into the competition.

Episode 1 started with poetry recitation, where the participants delivered four verses from the poem His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The great poet, Muhammad Bin Hammad Al-Kaabi, known as “The Poet of the Nation”, supervised the poetry recitation competition and awarded grades to the participants.

Al Kaabi expressed his happiness at adding this competition, stressing that reciting poetry is part of the Emirati society and heritage, and that the efforts of the organisers to add it will have a positive impact on the youth and motivate them to continue preserving the UAE’s intangible cultural heritage.

In the poetry recitation, Humaid Al Rezzi and Rashid Al Mansoori both got full 10 marks while Al Mansoori and Maktoum Al Shamsi scored 20 points each in Saktoun.

In Youlah, Maktoum Al Shamsi and Hamdan Farhan Al Ahbabi got 46 points each while Humaid Al Rezzi and Al Mansouri both received perfect 50 points.

National Day added joy to the start of the competition

Natalie Awadissian, HHC Director of Radio Stations Department, Media and Communication Department and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Fazza Championship for Youlah, said the competition began at an auspicious time as the UAE celebrated its 49th National Day.

She also noted the additional challenges reflect the strategic goals of the competition including preserving and developing the national heritage for future generations.

Episode 2

The next round will be held on Friday (December 11). The public can watch the action at Global Village and it also be broadcast live on Sama Dubai TV and Al Oula Radio. A free App can be downloaded (IS and Androis) for the voting.