The International Fund for Houbara Conservation (IFHC) and Ekthar Wildlife Development have concluded their participation at the 23rd Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX). The ten-day event, held at the ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi from August 28 to September 6, 2026, served as a key platform for the Sheikh Zayed Houbara Conservation Programme to showcase nearly five decades of conservation achievements.
Operating under the theme "The Legacy Lives On," the joint IFHC–Ekthar pavilion featured interactive experiences, workshops, and scientific demonstrations. The pavilion highlighted the historical journey of the conservation initiative, which was first conceptualized in 1977 by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Today, the program stands as a global model incorporating scientific research, captive breeding, ecological tracking, and international cooperation.
During the exhibition, visitors interacted with live houbara and stone-curlew, viewed a three-dimensional model of conservation breeding, and observed cutting-edge technology. Among the innovations shown was a prototype for artificial intelligence-powered eye-recognition, developed alongside Khalifa University, which could eventually replace traditional leg rings for identifying individual birds.
To date, the Sheikh Zayed Houbara Conservation Programme has produced more than 1.1 million houbara, released over 668,000 birds into the wild, and tracked more than 6,000 individuals to study migration and survival patterns. The initiative currently spans across 22 nations.
At the event, Ekthar and IFHC launched the Houbara Breeders Support Initiative, a program designed to help Emirati breeders build sustainable breeding operations. This program will offer structured courses and training via the Abu Dhabi Nature Academy.
Furthermore, IFHC and Ekthar signed more than ten agreements and memoranda of understanding during ADIHEX. Collaborative partners included the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, the University of Sharjah, the Emirates Falconers Club, and Hikvision, among others. These partnerships will target biodiversity data, wildlife conservation, technology, and cultural heritage protection.
Mohamed Almotawa AlDhaheri, Acting Director-General of the IFHC, remarked that the exhibition allowed the organization to connect its extensive conservation history with the public, combining science, innovation, and community engagement to advance conservation goals.
