Abu Dhabi’s flagship hunting and equestrian exhibition is placing sustainability at the centre of its heritage programme, presenting traditional resource-saving practices alongside modern recycling, conservation and circular-economy technologies.The Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2026, which opened on August 28 at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, is using its 23rd edition to demonstrate how practices rooted in Emirati life can inform contemporary approaches to environmental protection. The event runs until September 6 and has been extended to 10 days for the first time.
Tadweer Group, participating as an exhibitor for the first time, is among the organisations drawing a direct connection between inherited cultural practices and present-day environmental policy. Its “Legacy of Sustainability” experience focuses on responsible resource use, reuse, repair and mindful consumption, values that were essential to communities living in demanding desert conditions.
The group is also sponsoring the Environmental Conservation and Cultural Heritage sector, where visitors are being introduced to the principles of resource recovery and the circular economy through workshops, storytelling sessions and interactive activities.
Tadweer chief executive Etienne Petit said sustainability was deeply embedded in the UAE’s heritage rather than being a new concept. Earlier generations understood the value of materials and avoided unnecessary waste through practices based on reuse, repair and careful consumption, he said.
The exhibition is linking those traditions with Abu Dhabi’s expanding resource-management infrastructure. Tadweer is developing an advanced material recovery facility with an annual processing capacity of 400,000 tonnes as part of plans to divert 80 per cent of Abu Dhabi’s municipal solid waste away from landfill by 2031.
The transition from conventional waste disposal towards recovering economic value from discarded materials has become an important part of Abu Dhabi’s sustainability strategy. Technologies for sorting, recycling and processing waste are increasingly being combined with behavioural campaigns intended to reduce consumption and encourage households and businesses to view discarded material as a resource.
Food waste is another focus at ADIHEX. Tadweer is participating alongside ne’ma, the UAE’s National Food Loss and Waste Initiative, which is presenting solutions designed to reduce losses across the food supply chain. Food loss and waste impose an estimated $1 trillion annual cost on the global economy, adding urgency to campaigns promoting responsible purchasing, storage and consumption.
Activities include a programme called “Our Heritage is Sustainable”, where visitors can decorate reusable bags and traditional Al Jafeer baskets with recyclable materials inspired by Emirati culture. Children are also being introduced to environmental responsibility through stories based on the conservation values associated with the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
The sustainability theme forms part of a much larger exhibition that has reached record scale this year. ADIHEX 2026 covers 107,000 square metres and has attracted 2,405 companies and brands from 71 countries. Exhibitor participation has risen 17 per cent from last year, while six countries are taking part for the first time.
Falconry remains one of the exhibition’s strongest cultural attractions. Fifty-five falcon farms are participating, up 20 per cent from the previous edition, including nine newcomers. Eight falcon auctions have been scheduled, with four held before the exhibition and another four taking place during the event.
ADIHEX includes 15 specialised sectors spanning falconry, equestrian sports, camels, hunting tourism and safari, veterinary services, arts and crafts, fishing and marine sports, camping equipment, outdoor vehicles and the preservation of environmental and cultural heritage.
The scale of the event reflects its evolution since its launch in 2003. What began primarily as a platform for hunting, falconry and traditional pursuits has expanded into an international marketplace for outdoor industries, conservation technologies, animal welfare services and heritage-related businesses.
Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Group chief executive of ADNEC Group, has described the exhibition as a model for using cultural heritage to support sustainable development while creating opportunities for commercial innovation and investment. Organisers are seeking to preserve traditional practices while allowing new technologies and businesses to develop around them.
The exhibition is also providing a commercial platform for smaller enterprises connected to heritage. Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development is supporting 17 Emirati businesses covering crafts, fashion, equestrian activities, food products, outdoor services and creative industries, illustrating how traditional knowledge and cultural identity can be converted into products and services for modern markets.
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