ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES / RankWire.AI / – International Fund for Houbara Conservation has introduced a new support scheme for Emirati houbara breeders during ADIHEX 2026. The Houbara Breeders Support Initiative is designed to assist existing breeding projects and those planning to establish new facilities. It provides specialized training, technical support, and access to expert breeding knowledge. The program also establishes standards related to animal welfare, biosecurity, and responsible facility management.
Ekthar Wildlife Development will manage the initiative, overseeing its scientific and technical elements. As a strategic partner for IFHC’s projects, centers, and programs both in the UAE and internationally, Ekthar Wildlife will support the program’s implementation and coordinate services for participating breeders. The launch occurred at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi during the 23rd Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition.
Training programs aim to uphold breeding standards
Breeders accepted into the program and their teams will undergo specialized training through Abu Dhabi Nature Academy. Courses will focus on responsible houbara breeding, animal welfare, biosecurity, and facility management, including operational practices in managed breeding programs. Certification is available upon course completion, with ongoing technical guidance from specialists throughout their participation.
Participants who pass assessments and complete training may also be eligible to receive breeding birds through a right to use agreement. This support complements the educational and technical components of the initiative. Designed by IFHC, the program aims to give breeders access to the knowledge accumulated through its long-standing conservation efforts. It combines breeder evaluation, formal instruction, and continuous support within a unified participation framework.
ADIHEX serves as the platform for launching the project
For over forty years, the International Fund for Houbara Conservation has been involved in breeding, research, releases, and conservation activities related to houbara bustards. Its efforts span projects within the UAE and collaborations across countries within the species’ native range. The new breeder program channels this extensive expertise into a structured scheme targeting private breeders, emphasizing animal welfare, biosecurity, and training standards.
Breeders can register via the Houbara Breeders Support Initiative website or through IFHC and Ekthar representatives at ADIHEX 2026. The exhibition takes place at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi from August 28 to September 6. Registration must be followed by an assessment process before final acceptance. Successful applicants will then gain access to training, technical advice, and breeding birds under the program’s established terms.