The easiest way to meet a falcon in Dubai is a desert camp, and three of our tours include a falcon photo: the sunrise balloon flight from $275 per person, the full-day desert safari from $45 and the evening quad safari from $70. A photo is a minute with a bird on a handler's glove, not a flying show. For a longer visit with a hospital tour and a show, the usual choice is Abu Dhabi. This guide covers where to go, how a photo works, why falcons wear hoods and how to spot a well-run stop.
By SB Excursions · Published 29 October 2026 · Updated 29 October 2026
Tour on this route: Sunrise Hot Air Balloon in Dubai — From $275 per person, 4-5 hours.
Can you hold a falcon in Dubai?
On a desert camp photo stop, usually yes, on a glove, for a minute or two, with the handler beside you. Our sunrise balloon flight (from $275), full-day desert safari (from $45) and evening quad safari (from $70) include falcon photos. The handler decides how the bird is held.
This guide also answers:
- Where can I see a falcon show near Dubai?
- How much does a falcon photo cost in Dubai?
- Can children see falcons on your tours?
Four places to meet a falcon from Dubai
#1
The sunrise balloon breakfast camp
After landing, a vintage Land Rover or SUV takes you to a private Bedouin camp for a gourmet breakfast, a short camel ride and a falconry photo session. The air is cool and the light is soft. The flight is 40-70 minutes with GCAA-licensed pilots, 4-5 hours in all with pickup, and a 30% deposit confirms it.
#2
The full-day desert safari at sunset
The sunset stop on the full-day safari pairs a camel ride with falcon photos as the desert turns gold, then comes the BBQ dinner and shows at Al Khayma camp. It is the cheapest way to see a falcon with a handler on our tours, at $45 per person with hotel pickup in Dubai, Sharjah or Ajman and no prepayment.
#3
The evening quad safari camp
The evening quad safari from $70 per person adds a full hour on a quad, sandboarding and sunset photos, then a camp welcome with Arabic coffee, dates, a short camel ride, henna for women and falcon photos. A live BBQ buffet and shows finish the night. Pickup is in the afternoon and the time shifts with the season.
#4
Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital
A booked tour of a falcon hospital includes a falcon museum, the reception and examination rooms, an aviary and a falcon show, and takes up to about two hours. Resellers list tickets from about AED 430, so check the current price. Our Abu Dhabi city tour does not include it, so book the hospital as a separate visit.
Falconry in Dubai: the short answer
The easiest way to meet a falcon in Dubai is a desert camp, and three of our tours include a falcon photo: the sunrise balloon flight from $275 per person, the full-day desert safari from $45 and the evening quad safari from $70. A photo means the bird sits on a handler's glove, usually for a minute or two. It is not a flying show.
A fuller falconry visit, with a hospital tour, an aviary and a show, is in Abu Dhabi, and we cannot point to a Dubai equivalent with the same programme. If the falcon is the whole point of your day, book the Abu Dhabi visit; if it is one stop in a bigger day, the camp photo is the sensible choice.
Where to see falcons: four options compared
All four options below involve a handler, and none of them lets you fly a bird yourself.
| Where | What you get | Time | Price (about) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunrise balloon camp (our tour) | Falconry photo session with breakfast and a short camel ride | 4-5 hours in all, from pre-dawn pickup | From $275 per person; 30% deposit |
| Full-day desert safari (our tour) | Falcon photos as the desert turns gold, then the camp dinner and shows | 7 hours with hotel pickup | From $45 per person; no prepayment |
| Evening quad safari (our tour) | Falcon photos at Al Khayma camp with Arabic coffee and dates | 6-7 hours with pickup | From $70 per person; no prepayment |
| Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital | Falcon museum, hospital, aviary and a show | Up to about 2 hours, plus the drive | From about AED 430 via resellers; check |
Our tour prices are from our tour pages. The hospital price is a reseller's figure and can change, so check before you book.
The falcon photo is listed in the programme of each of our tours. For a fuller day out, read the guide to a day in Abu Dhabi from Dubai, and how to get from Dubai to Abu Dhabi for the road, the bus and the tour.
How a falcon photo works
At a camp the routine is the same wherever you are, and a few simple habits keep the bird calm.
- The handler brings the bird. It is usually on a leather glove, often with its hood on while it waits and off for the photo if it is calm.
- You do what the handler says. Stand still, keep your arm steady if you are given the glove, and move slowly.
- It takes a minute or two. Falcons are not props, so each group gets a short turn and then the bird rests.
- Do not touch the wings, tail or head unless the handler invites you to, and never grab a bird.
- Turn the flash off and keep your phone back until the handler is ready, because a sudden flash or a lens close to the face can startle the bird.
- Keep your voice and your children calm. Falcons notice sudden noise and movement, and a startled bird is hard to photograph.
Why falcons matter in the UAE
Falconry is an old Emirati tradition. Bedouin families kept falcons to hunt for food in the desert, and the bird remains a symbol of Gulf heritage. The falcon appears on the UAE's national emblem, and UNESCO lists falconry as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity, shared by many countries including the UAE. Today it is mainly a cultural sport and a family pastime, and many of the birds are bred in captivity.
A few details help when you meet one. The saker and the peregrine are the best-known birds in Gulf falconry. The leather hood keeps a falcon calm by shutting out sights and movement, so a hooded bird is not in distress. And falcons in the UAE can have their own passports, used when their owners travel with them, which is a good question to ask the handler if you want to start a conversation.
How to tell a well-run falcon stop from a poor one
A falcon in a hot car park for a tip is not a good experience for the bird, and it is not a good photograph either. Look for the following before you hold anything.
- Shade and water. A bird waiting in direct midday sun is a reason to skip; the best camps keep the birds out of the heat.
- A handler who knows the bird. Ask its name, its species and its age; a good handler will usually enjoy the question.
- No crowds. One bird, one small group at a time; a bird passed from tourist to tourist for an hour is being overworked.
- Calm signs. A falcon panting with its beak open, bobbing its tail or flapping hard on its tether is stressed. Step back and skip the photo.
- Not on the roadside. Avoid photo stalls with animals on the pavement or in a mall; stick to camps and visits where the handler explains the bird.
On our tours, the falcon photo is part of a camp programme at a Bedouin or desert camp, not a roadside stop. If you ever feel a bird is being treated badly, say so to the guide and step away.
Best time, kids and what to bring
Falcons and handlers are most comfortable in the cooler months, from about October to April, and in the early morning or evening at other times. The sunrise balloon flight is weather-dependent, so if a flight is cancelled you get a full refund or another date. The balloon is not suitable for pregnant women, children under 7, guests over 80 or anyone with serious heart or back issues, and guests over 120 kg may be charged an extra fee, so check the age limits guide before you book.
A falcon photo suits children who can stay quiet and still. The full-day safari is the family-friendly option, and the desert safari with kids guide covers ages and bedtimes. On the balloon, wear layers and closed shoes, since mornings in the desert are chilly, and bring your passport or ID for the flight manifest; what to wear for the balloon has the full list.
Which tour for the falcon: balloon, safari or both
If you want the falcon with a quiet start to the day, the sunrise balloon at $275 per person is the premium choice: a 40-70 minute flight over the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, with gazelles, oryx and camels below, then breakfast, a camel ride and the falcon photo at a Bedouin camp. It sells out one to two weeks ahead, and is the $275 flight worth it explains what the price buys.
If you want a full day for $45, the safari gives you dune bashing, sandboarding, a camel ride at sunset, falcon photos and the camp dinner with shows. The balloon or safari guide compares them side by side. For the other two camp activities, see camel riding in Dubai and sandboarding in Dubai.
FAQ
Can you hold a falcon in Dubai?
On a desert camp photo stop, usually yes, on a glove, for a minute or two, with the handler beside you. Our sunrise balloon flight (from $275), full-day desert safari (from $45) and evening quad safari (from $70) include falcon photos. The handler decides how the bird is held.
Where can I see a falcon show near Dubai?
The visit we can point to is the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital, which runs booked tours of its museum, hospital and aviary with a falcon show, taking up to about two hours. It is in Abu Dhabi, so allow a 1.5-2 hour drive each way.
How much does a falcon photo cost in Dubai?
On our tours it is part of the programme and the tour price: from $275 per person on the balloon flight, from $45 on the full-day safari and from $70 on the evening quad safari. Stand-alone photo stops and hospital tours are priced by the operator, so check the current price.
Why do falcons wear hoods?
A leather hood shuts out sights and movement, which keeps the bird calm while it waits. A hooded falcon is not hurt, and the handler decides when the hood comes off.
Is falconry cruel to the birds?
A well-run stop is not. It has shade and water, a handler who knows the bird, short turns and no crowds. Avoid roadside photo stalls and any stop where a bird is panting or flapping on its tether.
Can children see falcons on your tours?
Yes, on the full-day safari and the evening quad safari, with an adult beside them. The balloon flight is not suitable for children under 7. We confirm what the camp allows for your child's age when you book.
Do I need to book the falcon photo separately?
No. On our tours the photo is part of the programme, so there is nothing separate to book. The Abu Dhabi hospital tour needs its own booking.
Recommended Dubai tours for this guide
Sunrise Hot Air Balloon in Dubai
It is the desert from above at first light: gazelles, oryx and camels in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, the Hajar Mountains on the horizon and the dunes turning gold. After landing a vintage Land Rover or SUV takes you to a private Bedouin camp for a gourmet breakfast (veg and non-veg options), a short camel ride and a falcon photo, and every guest gets an electronic flight certificate signed by the pilot.
- Duration
- 4-5 hours
- Area
- Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve
- Format
- Shared sunrise balloon flight with breakfast
- Best for
- couples, photographers and anyone who wants the desert at sunrise from above
From $275 per person 30% deposit
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Full-Day Desert Safari in Dubai
It is the slow-travel version of the classic safari: more time on the dunes, sunset without the crowds and a full evening programme at a premium camp with air-conditioned tents, unlimited drinks and a large BBQ buffet with vegetarian and gluten-free options. Everything is arranged from the hotel door — a licensed English-speaking driver, the 4x4, the camp and the shows.
- Duration
- 7 hours
- Area
- Lahbab Desert, Dubai
- Format
- Full-day desert safari
- Best for
- families, couples and first-time desert visitors who want the full evening programme
From $45 per person No prepayment
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Evening Quad Bike Desert Safari
It is the desert safari for people who want to drive, not just ride along: a full hour on a self-drive quad is part of the price, from $70 per person on a bike shared by two guests or $105 on your own quad. The rest of the evening is the classic camp programme — sandboarding, a camel ride, sunset photos, Arabic coffee and dates, henna for women, a live BBQ buffet and the shows — with hotel pickup and no prepayment.
- Duration
- 6-7 hours
- Area
- Lahbab Desert, Dubai
- Format
- Shared quad safari
- Best for
- couples, friends and active travellers who want to drive a quad on the dunes, not just ride in a 4x4
From $70 per person No prepayment
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