Passion for pigeons persists in Arab world

Pigeons flying above the Egyptian capital’s twin city of Giza, with the Pyramid of Khafre in the background. — AFP/Khaled Desouki

Atop his humble wooden dovecote overlooking the majestic Giza pyramids, Abdel-Rahman Gamal released 20 homing pigeons, sending them soaring up into the Cairo sky reddened by the setting sun.

“It’s a lovely hobby that keeps you busy while you’re at home and keeps you on the straight and narrow, ” said Gamal, 30, who has been raising pigeons since he was six.