Al Marzoom Hunting Reserve in the Al Dhafra region continues to welcome falconers, traditional hunting aficionados, and visitors for the ninth consecutive season until mid-February, as part of the traditional hunting season in Abu Dhabi. The reserve, supervised by the Committee for the Management of Festivals and Cultural Programs in Abu Dhabi, offers opportunities to hunt for houbara bustards, deer, and rabbits using traditional hunting methods with falcons or salukis in the picturesque nature of the Al Dhafra region, along with overnight stays in traditional tents at nominal fees (Royal Camp, Elite Camp, and Special Measure), using classic cars or private vehicles accompanied by a professional hunter within an area spanning 923 square kilometers and located approximately 80 kilometers from Abu Dhabi city.
The reserve aims to preserve the natural environments that host it and protect its vital and geological elements, enhance programs to reintroduce endangered wildlife species, and designate the reserve as a suitable location for falconry and traditional hunting methods. It is the first and largest reserve in the UAE for practicing traditional hunting through the hunting of houbara and rabbits with falcons and deer with salukis, with these animals being sourced from known breeding centers rather than the wild.
The reserve also provides an opportunity to learn about local flora such as ghada, ramth, shanan, and hazza, among many other wild plants that grow in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi, as well as to observe various animals that inhabit the area, including deer, rabbits, houbara, and other wildlife species. During the previous season, the reserve attracted more than 1,500 visitors, including falconers, traditional hunting enthusiasts, and Arab and foreign tourists, raising the total number of visitors over past seasons to 10,200. The reserve offers its visitors a distinctive experience to enjoy the beautiful nature and environment, while also practicing traditional hunting within the framework of sustainable hunting according to the hunting laws in Abu Dhabi, with two hunting sessions available each day (morning and evening) throughout the week.
The management of the reserve is keen to enhance awareness among all visitors regarding the hunting laws in Abu Dhabi within the scope of sustainable hunting and the necessity to comply with the reserve's hunting conditions, ensuring a successful hunting experience for everyone without causing harm to the reserve and its natural treasures or disturbing wildlife, encompassing animals, trees, and wild plants.
