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Arabian Saluki Championship
“Other animals run, but these hounds fly!”
~ Traditional Turkish
The Saluki (Desert Regency) Tartan celebrates one of the Arabian Peninsula’s most ancient and treasured canine companions, the Saluki, a graceful sighthound whose history is intimately entwined with the Bedouin peoples and the desert landscapes of the Middle East.
Prized for its extraordinary speed, endurance, keen eyesight, and hunting prowess, the Saluki has accompanied nomadic tribes for thousands of years. Traditionally used to hunt gazelle, hare, and other swift desert game, these elegant hounds were cherished companions and symbols of prestige, often enjoying a privileged place within Bedouin households.
The breed occurs in two coat varieties: the Smooth Saluki, with its sleek, short coat, and the Feathered Saluki, distinguished by silky fringes on its ears, tail, and legs. The tartan's intricate sett incorporates delicate lines evoking the rippling sands of the Arabian desert and the fine texture of the Saluki's coat, symbolically uniting both varieties in a celebration of their shared ancestry and heritage.
The inaugural 2026–2027 Arabian Saluki Championship in Abu Dhabi features races over 1,000, 1,500, and 2,000 metres, alongside conformation shows and simulated hunting competitions that celebrate the elegance, athleticism, and traditional abilities of these remarkable desert hounds. ❤️ 💜 💙 💛 🤍 🐕 🐕 🐕 🐾 🐾 🐾 🏆
The Saluki, sometimes known as the Persian Greyhound or Arabian Hound, is among the world's oldest recognised dog breeds, with origins reaching back thousands of years to the ancient Middle East. Slender, swift, and remarkably enduring, these elegant sighthounds were bred to pursue gazelle, hare, and other fast-moving game across the deserts and plains of Arabia, Persia, and neighbouring regions. Dogs resembling Salukis appear in ancient Egyptian art, although their precise relationship to the modern breed remains uncertain.
Among the Bedouin peoples, the Saluki occupied an unusually honoured position. Unlike ordinary working dogs, these prized hunting companions were often welcomed into their owners' tents, carefully bred, and sometimes transported on camels to preserve their strength for the hunt. Their exceptional eyesight, speed, and stamina made them invaluable in a landscape where survival depended upon skill and endurance.
The Saluki's introduction to the Western world was gradual. Although individual hounds reached Britain during the nineteenth century, the breed became more firmly established in 1895, when the Honourable Florence Amherst imported Salukis from Egypt and began a dedicated breeding programme. Interest grew after the First World War, as British officers returning from the Middle East brought these striking dogs home. The discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922 also helped fuel public fascination with the ancient hounds of Egypt, and the British Kennel Club formally recognised the Saluki in 1923.
Across the Atlantic, Salukis had arrived as early as the 1830s, when American diplomat Commodore David Porter arranged for hounds to be brought from the Ottoman Empire. However, the breed did not become established in the United States until the 1920s, receiving American Kennel Club recognition in 1927. Despite its aristocratic appearance and growing international following, the Saluki has remained a relatively uncommon breed, particularly cherished by enthusiasts who admire its independent temperament, quiet dignity, and extraordinary athleticism.
Today, Salukis are found throughout the world as treasured companions, show dogs, and competitors in lure coursing and other sighthound sports.
For more on this year's special championship in the UAE, click the Saluki!