The village is the site of the National Avian Research Centre (aka NARC). It breeds the iconic houbara bustard. The town of Sweihan was founded by the late Saif Al-Mashgouni.[3] The Noor Abu Dhabi solar power plant, the world's largest single plant with 3.2 million solar panels, is located near the town.[4] The highest temperature recorded in the United Arab Emirates was 52.1°C (126°F) in July 2002 in Sweihan.[5]