Its the end of the year again. Time for a massive airlift to support Abu Dhabi ruler bird hunting party

Every year in December VIPs from Adu Dhabi travel to Morocco to hunt for birds. The ruler of Abu Dhabi and his friends travel in luxury. Weeks before the hunting starts large cargo aircraft fly cars, tents, food, staff and more from Adu Dhabi to a small airport in the desert of Morocco.

This post will give an overview of this massive airlift.

In 2024 the hunting party took place in November. This video gives an impression of aircraft visiting Bouarfa airport.

Like previous years two Dash 8’s were operating between Rabat and Bouarfa. Abu Dhabi Aviation Dash 8 A6-ADE arrived from Abu Dhabi via multiple stops at Rabat at November 6. The first flight to Bouarfa was November 10. Almost every day the aircraft shuttled between the two airports. At November 20 the aircraft returned home via Tunis and many other stops.

A6-ADK is the second Dash 8 used. It arrived at Rabat November 6. The first flight to Bouarfa was at November 16. It did 5 shuttle flights and then returned at November 22 via stops at Malta, Sharm en ElSheik to Abu Dhabi.

At November 9 B777-200 A6-HHH of the Dubai Royal Airwing arrived at Bouarfa. It departed to Rabat . At November 10 it departed Rabat for Dubai.

Volga Dnepr Antonov 124 RA-82044 flew Abu Dhabi – Cairo -Bouarfa at November 9 . It departed Bouarfa at November 10 to Tunis. From Tunis it departed to Sochi.

At November 10, A319 A6-RRJ arrived. It departed Abu Dhabi, made a stop in Cairo and landed Bouarfa . It then flew to Oudja. And returned to Abu Dhabi at November 12.

At November 10 C17 1229 of UAE Airforce arrived as UAF1225.

At November 11 Etihad Airways B777-300 A6-ETS flew Abu Dhabi to Bouarfa. It then continued to Casablanca. From there it returned to Abu Dhabi.

At November 12, B737-800 A9C-ISA of Bahrain Royal flight flew from Bahrain via Tunis to Bouarfa. After 1,5 hour on the ground it continued to Rabat. The next day it flew to Birmingham. Likely picked up passengers. At November 14 the aircraft flew Birmingham to Bouarfa.

At November 12, IL76 EX-76019 flew Abu Dhabi to Bouarfa . It then departed to Oudja . The next day it returned to Abu Dhabi.

At November 13 B737-700 BBJ A6-AIN flew Abu Dhabi to Bouarfa. It stayed at Bouarfa till November 17 when it returned to Abu Dhabi. At November 23 it flew to Oudja.

At November 13, A6-MMM of the UAE Presidential flight arrived from Dubai. It flew to Bouarfa ,dropped the passengers and flew to Valencia for parking.

At November 13, B737-700 BBJ A6-RJA flew from Abu Dhabi to Bouarfa. It then left to Oudja.

At November 14, Bahrain Royal flight Gulfstream 5 A9C-SLM arrived at Bouarfa.At November 14, A6-SIL Boeing 777 of UAE Presidential Flight landed at Bouarfa.

At November 16 B737-800 A9C-ISA flew Bahrain to Rabat. Picked up passengers and returned to Bahrain at November 17.
At November 16 A6-HHH flew from Dubai to Malaga. The next day it flew to Bouarfa, picked up the passengers and flew to Dubai.

Below A6-HHH on departure to Rabat at November 9.

At November 17, Boeing 747-400 of Bahrain Ameri Flight departed Rabat. Landed at Bouarfa and departed to Bahrain.

At November 17, A6-MMM of the UAE Presidential flight arrived from Valencia to Bouarfa ,picked up the passengers and left for Dubai.

Also November 17, A6-SIL Boeing 777 of UAE Presidential Flight departed Bouarfa back to the UAE.

At November 17, A6-MMM of the UAE Presidential flight arrived from Valencia, Spain. It flew to Bouarfa , picked up the passengers and flew to Dubai.

At November 21 United Arab Emirates AF C17 registered 1229 arrived at Bouarfa. It then departed to Rabat. The next day it returned to Abu Dhabi.

Also at November 21, Georgian Airways B767 4L-GTR was chartered. It flew Tblisi to Bouarfa. After a stop of three hour and after the passengers boarded the aircraft flew to Abu Dhabi.

This first flight to bring cargo back to UAE took place at November 29. The large Antonov 124 UR-ZYD departed Abu Dhab and landed at Tunis after a stop in Cairo. On November 30 the aircraft landed at its final destination, the airport of Bouarfa in Morocco. At December 2 the aircraft returned here after coming from a destination somewhere in south Morocco. At December 9 the aircraft took off from an UAE airport and flew to Tunis. The next day UR-ZYD continued to Bouarfa. Then it returned to the UAE.

The next aircraft involved in the yearly airlift is IL76 EX-76018. It departed Ras Al khaimah December 13 to Tunis. After a stop of a few hours the aircraft continued to Bouarfa.

To track the aircraft which already took part in the airlift and which might participate this link might help