Abu Dhabi: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, in his capacity as chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, on Tuesday issued a resolution naming the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi (EAD) as the specialised body for licensing areas allocated for hunting.
The resolution stipulated that hunting cannot be practiced except within the borders of the geographic areas specified by the agency, and under the supervision of an experienced and professional hunter.
The resolution states that the licensing process of the areas allocated for hunting also includes specifying the geographic borders of the area, and terms and conditions for any hunting activities.
Bred in captivity
The executive regulations permit the hunting of species that are bred in captivity and released into areas designated for hunting, such as houbara, stone curlew and desert rabbit.
These species may only be hunted under the guidance and supervision of a professional hunter.
The regulations stipulate that EAD can specify the hunting season and species that are allowed to be hunted. The agency can also issue decision banning the hunting of any type of species.
Article No. 3 of the executive regulations lists the traditional methods of hunting, defined as falconry and hunting by saluki. The article stipulates that houbara, stone curlews and desert rabbits can only be hunted using traditional methods.
The regulations state that the hunter must be at least 18 years old to hunt. The age restriction does not apply for traditional methods of hunting, as long as the hunter is accompanied by someone who is at least 18 years old.
The agency’s employees are allowed access into areas designated for hunting to carry out inspection and ensure that the regulations are being followed.
