Dubai Falconry Safari: Private Desert & Falcon Flying

Fly a Falcon Over Dubai's Desert in a Private 5-Hour Session

You get picked up from your hotel, driven into the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, and spend a private session flying a falcon from your gloved hand under expert instruction. A short wildlife drive lets you spot Arabian Oryx and gazelle. If you upgrade, breakfast at Al Maha Resort is part of the day. The whole thing takes about five hours, and the driver handles transport both ways.

Step-by-step itinerary

Private falconry and wildlife drive

• Travel from Dubai by luxury 4x4
• Wildlife drive in Dubai Desert Reserve
• Private falconry session with expert falconers

The experience

The moment the falcon lands on your gloved hand, the weight of it shifts everything. You're standing in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, the bird's talons gripping leather, its head turning to track movement across the dunes. A private falconry safari isn't something you watch. It's something the bird decides to let you do, and that distinction matters. Your expert falconer guides you through the basics: how to read the bird's posture, how to call it back, how the whole ancient practice works when it's just you, one handler, and a bird that could leave whenever it wants.

The day starts with hotel pickup in a luxury 4x4, then a 10-to-15-minute wildlife drive through the reserve before you reach the falconry grounds. You'll see Arabian Oryx, Sand Gazelle, and Houbara Bustard moving across the landscape: the kind of animals that belong here, not in a compound. The reserve itself is 5,000 hectares of actual desert, not a theme park version, which changes how the whole thing feels. Your guide explains traditional and modern training techniques as you work with the bird, learning to understand its behavior and capabilities. The falcon's speed and agility aren't something you read about. You see it happen from three feet away.

If you add the breakfast upgrade, you'll eat at Al Maha Desert Resort before or after the session. It's a choice your guide will make based on timing and the bird's readiness. The whole experience runs about five hours from pickup to drop-off. Pickup and drop-off times shift with the season and weather, so you'll confirm the exact window when you book. Everything you need (the glove, the equipment, the transport, the expertise) is included. You show up, and the rest is arranged.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned 4x4, a private driver-guide, a 10-to-15-minute wildlife drive through the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve where you may see Arabian Oryx and Sand Gazelle, an interactive falconry session where you fly the bird from your gloved hand, use of all falconry equipment, and the option to add breakfast at Al Maha Desert Resort. Value Added Tax is already included in the price.

Options for this experience

2 options

Tour OnlyGuide in English or Arabic · 05:00Private tour featuring an interactive falconry experience, pickup is included

Tour with BreakfastGuide in English or Arabic · 05:00Private tour with an interactive falconry experience and breakfast, includes pickup

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 05:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (under 12)

GroupUp to 4

Live guideEnglish and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 5 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availableNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Royal Shaheen Events

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a hands-on falconry experience without arranging transport, equipment, or expert instruction yourself: the private format and included guide mean you arrive and the bird does the teaching.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 12).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's included in the private falconry safari?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, round-trip transport by air-conditioned 4x4, a private falconry session with glove and equipment, a wildlife drive through the reserve, and a private driver-guide. Breakfast at Al Maha Desert Resort is optional.

How long does the experience last?

About five hours total, including the drive to the reserve, the wildlife viewing, and the falconry session itself.

Can I really fly the falcon myself?

Yes. Your expert falconer teaches you how to handle the bird and call it back. You'll fly it from your gloved hand under guidance.

What wildlife might I see?

The 10-to-15-minute wildlife drive offers chances to spot Arabian Oryx, Sand Gazelle, and Houbara Bustard in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve.

What time does pickup happen?

Pickup and drop-off times vary throughout the year depending on weather and season. You'll confirm the exact window when you book.

What if I have health concerns?

The experience is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health. Discuss any specific concerns with the operator when booking.

Is breakfast included?

Breakfast at Al Maha Desert Resort is optional and available as an upgrade. Standard pricing does not include it.