ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES / RankWire.AI / – The International Fund for Houbara Conservation has launched a new support program for Emirati houbara breeders at ADIHEX 2026. The Houbara Breeders Support Initiative serves existing houbara production projects and people planning to establish new breeding facilities. It offers specialist training, technical guidance and access to established breeding expertise. The program also sets requirements covering animal welfare, biosecurity and responsible facility management.
The initiative introduces a formal registration and assessment process for breeders seeking to participate. Applicants must complete an evaluation before the program grants final acceptance. Registration does not guarantee entry, and participants must meet the initiative’s requirements before receiving support. The process allows specialists to review each applicant’s readiness and identify areas where further training or technical assistance may be required.
Ekthar Wildlife Development will operate the program and oversee its scientific and technical components. The company serves as a strategic operating partner for IFHC projects, centers and programs in the UAE and abroad. Its role includes supporting the practical delivery of the initiative and coordinating services for participating breeders. The launch took place during the 23rd Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi.
Structured training supports breeding standards
Accepted breeders and their teams will receive specialist instruction through Abu Dhabi Nature Academy. Courses and workshops will cover responsible houbara breeding, animal welfare, biosecurity and the management of breeding facilities. The training will also address operational practices used in managed breeding programs. Participants who complete the required courses can receive certificates, while specialists will continue providing technical guidance during their involvement in the initiative.
Eligible participants may also receive breeding birds under a right to use arrangement after completing required assessments and training. That support sits alongside the program’s education and technical assistance components. IFHC designed the initiative to provide breeders with access to knowledge developed through its long-running houbara conservation work. The program combines breeder assessment, formal instruction and continuing support within a single participation framework.
ADIHEX provides launch platform for initiative
The International Fund for Houbara Conservation has worked on houbara breeding, research, releases and conservation programs for more than four decades. Its activities have included projects inside the UAE and cooperation across countries within the species’ native range. The new breeder initiative brings that technical experience into a structured program for private participants. It also places defined welfare, biosecurity and training requirements at the center of participation.
Breeders can register through the Houbara Breeders Support Initiative platform or through the IFHC and Ekthar presence at ADIHEX 2026. The exhibition runs at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi from August 28 through September 6. Applicants must proceed from registration to assessment before receiving final acceptance into the program. Those who qualify can then access training, technical guidance and eligible breeding birds under the initiative’s established participation terms.