In December 2012, the Al Ain Zoo in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates hosted a meeting of setting up a regional association for zoos in Arab countries, the Arabian Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZAA) with the help from World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the South Asian Zoo Association for Regional Cooperation, the African Association of Zoos and Aquaria and several delegations from the UAE, Qatar, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain as their member states,[14] of which Riyadh Zoo was a participant.[15]