Most booked
Falcon photo, falcon show or real falconry
Three different things are sold under the word "falcon", and the price gap between them is large.
Falcon photo. On most shared evening safaris in Lahbab, Al Awir and Al Badayer, a handler at the camp sets a falcon on your arm for a picture. It is part of the camp program, a nice photo rather than falconry.
Falcon show. Heritage safaris in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve (DDCR) and Al Marmoom include a flying display. The falconer swings a lure, the bird makes fast passes over the sand, and you hear how falcons are trained and why they matter in Emirati culture. Platinum Heritage holds its show at sunset after a camel trek; the Al Marmoom Bedouin Experience follows its camel caravan with a falcon show. You watch, and usually get a photo afterwards.
Hands-on falconry. A dedicated session with a falconer, where the birds fly to your gloved hand. Royal Shaheen, which the DDCR lists as its falconry partner since 2011, publishes a 90-minute show in the reserve for up to 25 guests. Platinum Heritage's private Royal Falconry Training gives you 75 minutes with falcons, hawks and owls, then a nature drive and breakfast at Al Maha.
Compared side by side
| Format | What you do | Time with the birds | Where | Comes with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falcon photo on a safari | Hold a falcon for a picture | A short photo stop | Standard safari camps | Dune bashing, camel ride, BBQ |
| Falcon show at a heritage camp | Watch a flying display, falconer talks | One show, then photos | DDCR, Al Marmoom | Camel trek or vintage Land Rover, dinner or breakfast |
| Royal Shaheen falconry, DDCR | Interactive show and handling | ≈ 90 min | Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve | Wildlife drive and hotel transfers on its safari packages |
| Platinum Heritage private falconry | Birds land on your glove | 75 min | DDCR | Private Land Rover Defender, 60-min nature drive, Al Maha breakfast; runs 1 November–30 April |
| In-flight falconry | A falcon flies by the balloon | During the flight | DDCR | Hero Balloon Flights private flights only |
The cards above are a heritage camp evening with a falcon show and the private morning with Al Maha breakfast. For a show inside a fuller evening, compare the VIP and heritage safaris.
What you actually do in a session
A private morning starts early: Platinum Heritage picks you up between 05:30 and 06:30, depending on the season. At the camp you get a leather glove and a safety briefing. The falconer flies each bird in turn, explains the hood, the lure and how a falcon is trained. When it is your turn you hold your gloved arm out and still, the falconer calls the bird, and it lands on your hand. You will usually handle more than one species; Platinum Heritage names falcons, hawks and owls.
Cooler months are better for both birds and people. The Platinum Heritage private session runs only from 1 November to 30 April; Royal Shaheen lists its show as year-round.
Welfare points to know
Falcons in shows are trained birds that live with their falconer, not wild birds. A hood keeps a falcon calm between flights and is normal practice. Platinum Heritage says each of its falconers looks after only a few birds. If a bird seems stressed, or you are asked to hold one in direct midday sun for photos, it is fine to decline.
Falcons with other experiences
- Inside a camel trek in the DDCR, as the sunset stop.
- On a hot air balloon morning: in-flight falconry on private flights, or a falcon photo after landing on shared packages.
- On a wildlife drive in the DDCR, where Royal Shaheen and Platinum Heritage run their sessions.
In the city, the Falcon Museum explains the history of falconry; the hands-on part happens in the desert.
