Royal Shaheen Falconry Safari in the Dubai Desert

Falconry is a long-standing tradition in the United Arab Emirates, and this experience lets you meet it up close. The programme lasts about five hours and combines a nature drive in the reserve with an hour and a half of meeting birds of prey. Pickup is by luxury 4x4 from locations around Dubai.

The first stage is a nature drive in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, in a 4x4. On the way you look for desert animals such as hares, and with luck the Arabian oryx, the rare species associated with the area. How many animals you see depends on the season, the time and luck, so there is no promise of seeing a particular species.

The second stage is an interactive falconry experience lasting 90 minutes. You are taught to fly a falcon from your glove, and shown prized birds of prey and training techniques in action. The birds on show include a greater spotted eagle, a Harris's hawk and a desert eagle owl. The encounter takes place in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, daily throughout the year, in a group of up to 25 guests.

The experience is traditional and interactive: you do not only watch, you learn to fly a falcon from your glove and see training techniques in action. The falconer and the guide are with you throughout the activity. It runs daily, but a minimum of two participants is required, so anyone travelling alone should check with us before booking.

What is included? The nature drive, the 90-minute falconry experience, a professional falconer and a qualified guide, Arabic coffee and dates, refreshments, and pickup and drop-off in a luxury 4x4. The transfer is on a sharing basis. The option name says 'No Breakfast', so no breakfast is served, and meals are not included.

Important operational details: a minimum of two guests is required. Transport is arranged with up to three people per car including the driver, or up to five including the driver if everyone is from the same family. The operator sends a reconfirmation email with the exact pickup time, and contacts customers about 24 to 48 hours before the tour to confirm the pickup location and time. Be ready for pickup 15 minutes early. The ticket is valid on the visit date only.

Who can take part? The ticket has an adult type for ages 12 to 99 and a child type for ages 0 to 11. This is a desert activity, so bring a hat, sunglasses and comfortable shoes. If you have a health condition or an allergy, ask us before booking.

Each ticket's cancellation terms are shown next to the ticket and on the booking screen, before you pay.

Who is it for? Families with children, couples and anyone who likes nature and culture and wants to meet birds of prey up close as part of a day in the desert.

Falconry is not just a show but a living heritage recognised around the world. It is the traditional art and practice of training and flying falcons, and sometimes eagles, hawks and other birds of prey. It has been practised for more than 4,000 years. Originally a way of obtaining food, it acquired other values over time: it became a social and recreational custom, and a way of connecting with nature. Today people of all ages practise it in many countries, and the knowledge is passed on through mentoring, within families and in training clubs.

UNESCO inscribed falconry in 2010 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, in a joint nomination coordinated by the United Arab Emirates. The inscription has since been extended and today includes 24 states, among them the UAE. The falconry community includes not only falconers but also supporting bodies, such as falcon hospitals, breeding centres, conservation agencies and makers of traditional equipment.

Among the Bedouin of the Arabian Peninsula, falconry was first of all a way to hunt in a land with few resources. The falcons hunted birds and other animals to bring food. Over the years its role in society changed, and today it is one of the most honoured traditional sports in the Emirates. Its standing comes from traditional values prized in the Arab world: courage, honour and nobility. It is also linked to nature conservation, respect for animals and camaraderie among falconers.

The educational side is emphasised to this day. Falconry lets children enjoy the spell of the desert and instils in them patience, fortitude, willpower and companionship, values just as important today as they have been for generations. The late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan practised falconry from a young age, was an enthusiastic supporter of it and helped preserve it.

The falcon is also a cultural symbol. The coat of arms of the United Arab Emirates shows a falcon holding in its talons a scroll bearing the name 'United Arab Emirates' in Arabic. Falconry is present at celebrations too: falconry demonstrations have a major role in National Day celebrations, other holidays and heritage events across the country.

Traditional falconry has its standard equipment. A leather forearm guard worn by the falconer serves as the bird's perch between hunting and training flights. In training, the falcon is taught to swoop down and attack a feathered decoy, and the trainer pulls the decoy away on a string as the bird closes in. Falcons are trained with patience and care, creating a deep bond between human and bird.

In traditional hunting the falcon did not work alone. Saluki dogs, which are hunting dogs, are raised from pups in contact with falcons to learn to work together with them. The bird locates the prey from the air, showing the dog where to go, and the Saluki retrieves prey that has been wounded by the falcon.

The Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve covers about 225 square kilometres, about 5% of the land area of Dubai. It is the second largest of the protected areas in the Emirate of Dubai, and is described as one of the most biologically diverse and rich environments in the Emirate. The reserve has been declared an Important Bird Area, and it has traditional wells and date farms that support the local community.

The Arabic coffee and dates included in the experience are part of Emirati hospitality. Arabic coffee was inscribed in 2015 on the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage and is seen as a symbol of generosity. The beans are roasted until they turn red or brown, then ground and brewed with cardamom. Welcoming a guest is considered incomplete without coffee, even when a banquet is held in the guest's honour.