Sheikh Zayed Houbara Conservation Programme Brings Its Legacy and Future to ADIHEX 2026
Sumaira FH | Published August 26, 2026 | 03:15 PM
ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM – 26th Aug, 2026) The International Fund for Houbara Conservation (IFHC) and Ekthar will jointly showcase the journey and future of the Sheikh Zayed Houbara Conservation Programme at the 23rd Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX). This exhibition highlights how a pioneering vision has evolved into a global conservation model.
ADIHEX 2026 will take place from August 28 to September 6 at ADNEC Centre, Abu Dhabi, under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of the Emirates Falconers’ Club. Organized by ADNEC Group in collaboration with the Emirates Falconers’ Club, the event carries the message "The Legacy Lives On".
The IFHC’s pavilion will take visitors on a trip through:
- The conservation vision initiated by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
- Nearly five decades of scientific and conservation achievements.
- Technologies, partnerships, and priorities shaping the Programme’s future.
Within the Programme, IFHC:
- Advances strategic conservation priorities.
- Conducts international advocacy.
- Focuses on education, outreach, and engagement with falconer communities.
Ekthar brings together scientific, technical, and operational expertise to support delivery. Reneco, an operating entity of Ekthar founded 40 years ago, provides the Programme’s scientific backbone in conservation breeding, field research, and habitat monitoring.
Launched in 1977, the Sheikh Zayed Houbara Conservation Programme aimed to address the decline of wild houbara populations. Its early successes included:
- Breeding the first Asian houbara chick at Al Ain Zoo in 1982.
- Establishing a long-term conservation model covering the species’ natural range in Asia and North Africa.
Since its inception, the Programme has produced over:
- 1,100,797 houbara.
- Released more than 668,000 birds to support wild populations.
- Tracked over 6,000 birds, gathering valuable data on migration and survival.
In 2025, the Programme achieved its highest annual production of 107,807 houbara.
Research, ecological monitoring, and genetic management have guided advanced breeding and release protocols. The Programme’s success depends on coordinated action across breeding grounds, migration routes, and wintering habitats to protect essential ecosystems for numerous species.
