Updated August 2026. Falconry is one of the most culturally significant practices in the UAE and wider Arab world — inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2016 — and it underpins a thriving commercial ecosystem of training services, falcon healthcare, falcon trading, and luxury falconry tourism. The UAE is home to approximately 28,000 registered falcon owners and over 40 licensed falconry training centres, supported by a regulatory framework administered principally by ADAFSA (Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority) and MOCCAE (Ministry of Climate Change and Environment). This guide covers the complete regulatory requirements, CITES documentation, licensing costs in AED, training business structures, and commercial opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors entering the UAE’s falconry services market in 2026.
- All falconry training businesses in the UAE require a MOCCAE Animal Establishment Licence and a DED commercial licence; combined start-up licensing costs range from AED 22,000 to AED 48,000.
- Every falcon in the UAE must carry a CITES permit and a UAE Falcon Passport issued by ADAFSA; trading without documentation attracts fines up to AED 200,000.
- The Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital — the world’s largest falcon hospital — treats over 11,000 falcons annually and sets the clinical standard for falcon healthcare in the UAE.
- DTCM-licensed falconry tourism experiences command AED 350–1,500 per session and are among the highest-rated cultural tourism products in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
- Professional falcon trainers (falconers) must be registered with the UAE Falconers’ Association and hold a minimum two-year verified falconry experience record under current ADAFSA guidelines.
UAE Falconry Industry Overview 2026
The UAE’s falconry industry encompasses falcon training and handling services, falcon health clinics, CITES-documented falcon import and export trading, falconry equipment manufacturing and retail, and high-value falconry tourism experiences. The total economic value of the UAE’s formal falconry sector is estimated at AED 1.8 billion annually when including falcon trading at premium valuations — individual champion falcons of the Peregrine and Saker species have traded for AED 500,000–3,000,000 at Abu Dhabi’s International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX), one of the world’s largest falconry events attracting over 180,000 visitors each year.
The UAE’s 28,000 registered falcon owners maintain approximately 65,000 birds across the country. Abu Dhabi accounts for the majority of serious falconers, while Dubai has seen rapid growth in falconry tourism as DTCM has actively promoted the practice as a premium cultural experience aligned with the Dubai Tourism Strategy 2027. The UAE Falconers’ Association, founded in 1996, represents over 5,000 professional and amateur falconers and provides the accreditation framework for falconry training businesses operating within UAE regulations.
ADAFSA and MOCCAE Licensing for Falconry Training Centres
The primary regulatory authority for falconry in Abu Dhabi is ADAFSA (Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority), which oversees falcon registration, the UAE Falcon Passport system, falcon import and export permits, and the licensing of falconry training establishments within the emirate. In other emirates, MOCCAE takes the lead regulatory role for these functions. All commercial falconry training businesses must hold a MOCCAE Animal Establishment Licence regardless of emirate location, in addition to any emirate-specific ADAFSA registration.
To obtain a falconry training establishment licence, applicants must demonstrate: a DED commercial licence with falconry training or animal handling services as a registered activity, premises meeting MOCCAE’s raptor welfare standards (minimum mew dimensions, perch specifications, weathering area size), at least one UAE Falconers’ Association-registered trainer with verified two-year experience, and a veterinary care agreement with a licensed avian veterinarian. The MOCCAE Animal Establishment Licence for a falconry centre costs AED 5,000 initially, with AED 2,500 annual renewal. ADAFSA in Abu Dhabi charges AED 3,000–6,000 for its Falcon Establishment Classification registration, which grades centres from one to five stars based on trainer qualifications, facility standards, and bird welfare outcomes.
CITES Documentation and the UAE Falcon Passport System
All falcons — whether resident birds kept by private owners or commercial training stock — must carry CITES documentation and a UAE Falcon Passport issued by ADAFSA. The UAE Falcon Passport, introduced in 2002 and now managed through ADAFSA’s digital FALCON system, is a microchip-linked identity document that records the bird’s species, origin, CITES permit number, ownership history, and veterinary health records. The passport fee is AED 300 per bird for initial issuance and AED 150 for renewal every three years.
Most falcon species used in UAE falconry — Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug), Barbary Falcon (Falco pelegrinoides), and Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) — are listed under CITES Appendix I (most endangered) or Appendix II (controlled trade). Commercial import and export of these species requires both a UAE CITES Management Authority export permit from MOCCAE and the corresponding permit from the country of origin. CITES Appendix I falcon permits cost AED 1,500 per bird per permit, with processing times of 20–45 business days. The UAE prohibits the import of wild-caught falcons without documented captive-breeding proof compliant with CITES Resolution Conf. 8.22. Only captive-bred birds from recognised breeding programmes — primarily in Germany, Czech Republic, and Kazakhstan — may be legally imported for commercial falconry purposes.
DED Commercial Licences for Falconry Service Businesses
Falconry training services, falcon boarding facilities, and falconry tourism operators must register with the relevant emirate’s DED. In Dubai, relevant DED activity codes include 7499.07 (Specialised Training Activities — Animals) and 9319.01 (Other Sporting Activities), with the falconry tourism element potentially requiring an additional DTCM Tourism Experience Operator licence. A DED licence for a falconry training and boarding business in Dubai costs AED 18,000–28,000 for an LLC structure. In Abu Dhabi, ADDED licences for falconry-related activities range from AED 16,000–25,000.
Falconry equipment retail — selling jesses, hoods, gloves, lures, and telemetry systems — requires a separate DED retail licence activity, adding AED 8,000–12,000 to the licence package. Many falconry businesses combine training services, equipment retail, and falcon boarding under a dual or triple-activity licence, which is cost-effective at a combined DED fee of AED 22,000–38,000. SIRA (Security Industry Regulatory Agency) permits may also be required if the business uses tracking and telemetry equipment that intersects with UAE spectrum regulations.
Falconry Business Revenue and Investment Benchmarks (AED)
The table below outlines the primary revenue categories for UAE falconry training and services businesses, alongside typical pricing and estimated annual revenue ranges for 2026.
| Service Category | Unit Price (AED) | Est. Monthly Revenue (AED) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Falcon Training (8-week course) | 3,500 – 8,000 | 25,000 – 80,000 | 8–12 birds per trainer cycle |
| Falcon Boarding (per month) | 1,500 – 3,500 | 30,000 – 105,000 | 20–30 birds capacity |
| Falconry Tourism Experience | 350 – 1,500 | 35,000 – 150,000 | Group and private sessions |
| CITES Falcon Brokerage (per bird) | 5,000 – 50,000 | Highly variable | Commission on verified trades |
| Equipment Retail (monthly) | Varies | 15,000 – 50,000 | Hoods, jesses, gloves, lures |
Falconry Tourism and DTCM Licensing in Dubai
Falconry tourism is one of Dubai’s premier cultural tourism products, actively promoted by DTCM as part of Dubai’s Experiential Tourism Strategy. Operators offering falconry experiences to tourists must register with DTCM as a licensed Tourism Experience Provider, in addition to their DED commercial licence. DTCM’s Tourism Experience Provider licence costs AED 15,000–35,000 annually depending on the scale of operations and the number of tourists handled per day. Experiences must comply with DTCM’s Heritage and Culture Experience Guidelines, which mandate authentic traditional falconry methods, certified bilingual falconers, and minimum safety standards for participant interaction with live raptors.
In Abu Dhabi, DCT Abu Dhabi’s Desert and Nature Experience Framework classifies falconry tourism under the Heritage Experiences category, with DCT’s approval being a prerequisite for marketing falconry experiences through Abu Dhabi’s official visitor platforms. Top-rated falconry tourism experiences in the UAE receive placement on Visit Dubai and Visit Abu Dhabi apps, significantly boosting booking volumes from international visitors. Many operators combine falconry sessions with camel rides, desert camps, and traditional cuisine for package pricing of AED 800–3,000 per person. Explore UAE tourism licensing and related business activities at our UAE business activities directory.
Falcon Health, Veterinary Care, and the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital
Falcon healthcare is a specialised veterinary discipline in the UAE, anchored by the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital — the largest raptor hospital in the world, treating over 11,000 falcons annually. Commercial falconry training businesses must have a veterinary care agreement in place with either the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital or a licensed avian veterinarian approved by ADAFSA. Annual falcon health checks, including comprehensive blood panels, feather condition assessments, and parasite screening, are mandatory for all birds registered under commercial training programmes. Veterinary costs per bird per year average AED 1,500–4,000 depending on health status and subspecies.
The UAE Falcon Passport system requires all veterinary treatments to be logged digitally through ADAFSA’s FALCON platform, creating a comprehensive health record accessible by all licensed veterinarians, customs inspectors, and CITES authorities. In 2025, ADAFSA introduced mandatory annual haemoplasma PCR screening for Saker falcons following a regional disease advisory, at a cost of AED 350–600 per bird. Explore related business structures at our free zone comparison tool and Dubai free zones directory.
Frequently Asked Questions
What licences do I need to open a falconry training centre in UAE?
You need a DED commercial licence with animal training activity (AED 18,000–28,000), a MOCCAE Animal Establishment Licence for a raptor facility (AED 5,000 initial), and in Abu Dhabi, ADAFSA Falcon Establishment Classification registration (AED 3,000–6,000). At least one UAE Falconers’ Association-registered trainer must be employed. Combined licensing costs: AED 22,000–48,000.
Do all falcons in the UAE need a Falcon Passport?
Yes. All falcons kept or traded in the UAE must carry an ADAFSA-issued UAE Falcon Passport linked to a microchip, regardless of whether the bird is privately owned or part of a commercial training programme. The passport fee is AED 300 for initial issuance and AED 150 for renewal every three years. Operating without a valid Falcon Passport is subject to fines under UAE Federal Law.
Can I import wild-caught falcons for UAE falconry businesses?
No. UAE regulations and CITES prohibit the commercial import of wild-caught falcons. Only captive-bred birds from recognised breeding programmes — primarily in Germany, Czech Republic, and Kazakhstan — may be legally imported for commercial falconry. All imports require CITES Appendix I or II permits (AED 1,500 per bird) and MOCCAE import authorisation with 20–45 business days processing time.
What is the cost of a professional falconry tourism experience in the UAE?
DTCM-licensed falconry tourism sessions in Dubai range from AED 350–1,500 per person for guided experiences lasting 60–180 minutes. Full desert falconry packages combining a session with camel rides, traditional meals, and camp overnight stay are priced at AED 800–3,000 per person. Revenue for well-rated falconry tourism operators averages AED 35,000–150,000 per month.
Is a DTCM or DCT Abu Dhabi licence required for falconry tourism?
Yes. Operators marketing falconry experiences to tourists in Dubai must hold a DTCM Tourism Experience Provider licence (AED 15,000–35,000 annually) in addition to their DED commercial licence. In Abu Dhabi, DCT Abu Dhabi classification under the Desert and Nature Experience Framework is required to appear on official tourism marketing channels and the Visit Abu Dhabi platform.