Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital

The hospital can only be visited with a tour guide, who can explain what you’re seeing as you’re shown the areas which are safe for members of the public to visit. All tours are given in English but custom tours are available in French, German, Arabic, or other languages for an additional fee. You should make sure to book your tour online in advance as walk-up tickets are not available.

You can choose either the basic two-hour tour or a three-hour comprehensive tour package which includes a buffet lunch and a souvenir photo. Apart from lunch and the official photograph, the content of both tours is identical.

If you’d like to hold a falcon then you’ll get the chance at the end of the tour. Children who are tall enough and feel brave will have the opportunity to hold a smaller species of falcon, while adults might get the chance to hold larger birds. You’ll usually have to wear a glove to hold the birds, to protect your hands from their talons, but there’ll be an experienced handler with you to make sure that nothing goes wrong. If you don’t feel like holding a bird then don’t worry, you won’t have to.

The falcon is the national bird of the United Arab Emirates and has long held a special place in Emirati culture. It’s thought that they represent strength and courage and, in addition to being used for falconry and hunting, they are popular pets and companions in Emirati households. It’s not unusual for falcons to have their own perches in their owner’s office or bedroom, and owners often book their falcons their own seats on airplanes when they travel together. It’s no wonder that animals that are held so dear in the UAE get their own hospital dedicated to their care.