Abu Dhabi’s Environment Agency has teamed up with Ekthar Wildlife Development. The partnership was signed on Saturday at the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX) 2026. Maitha Al Hameli, Acting Executive Director of the agency’s Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity Sector, and Frédéric Lacroix, CEO of Ekthar, formalised the deal. Both sides said the agreement will boost science‑led conservation across the emirate.
Broad scope of wildlife collaboration
The new pact covers a wide range of activities, from species conservation, recovery and reintroduction to conservation breeding programmes. It also includes wildlife health and bio‑security, genetics and genomics, biodiversity monitoring and sustainable wildlife management, with a nod to culturally important practices such as falconry. By pooling expertise, the two organisations aim to generate practical, evidence‑based solutions that support the long‑term health of Abu Dhabi’s desert and marine ecosystems.
Beyond joint projects, the agreement creates space for knowledge exchange and capacity‑building initiatives. Both parties will develop joint initiatives as opportunities arise, ensuring that new research needs can be addressed promptly. The flexible structure respects each partner’s policies while allowing for rapid response to emerging conservation challenges.
Building on a legacy of species recovery
Abu Dhabi has a long history of investing in captive breeding and species‑recovery work, most famously with the Arabian oryx and the houbara bustard. Those successes have laid a solid foundation for today’s science‑driven approach. The partnership with Ekthar adds fresh technical capacity, drawing on the company’s decades of applied experience in conservation breeding, genomics and bio‑security.
The signing at ADIHEX 2026 follows a busy week for the Environment Agency, which also announced collaborations with Japan’s Suwa Falconry Preservation Society and cooperation around the Sheikh Zayed Protected Areas Network. Together, these agreements signal an active period of partnership‑building that reinforces Abu Dhabi’s reputation as a serious player in environmental protection.