Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital

In 1991, the hospital was established by the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, with an aim to maintain and conserve the health of the national birds of the United Arab Emirates and the tradition of falconry, and also to promote research and conservation of the species. What initially started out as a purely veterinary facility and a centre for falcon medicine has slowly expanded in the areas of tourism, awareness, education and research.

Since 2006, the ADFH has fully grown into a specialized avian hospital for a variety of bird and poultry species. The hospital also further diversified its services into the field of animal care, with the establishment of the ADFH Pet Care Centre, the ADFH Pet Clinic and the dog agility park. It also manages the Abu Dhabi Animal Shelter, and is authorized to conduct neutering for the Trap-Neuter-Run program in Abu Dhabi.

In the year 2007, the hospital ventured into the field of leisure and tourism, specifically Meeting, Incentives, Conferencing and Exhibitions (MICE). Today, it has grown into a major tourist attraction in the capital city, with its very own falcon breeding centre.

The Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital has gained a reputation as one of the leading falcon hospitals in the Gulf region and in the world, with a loyal patient base in the United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain. They receive an approximate of 11,200 falcons for examination and medical care annually, and provide quality healthcare services to the birds. This includes medicine, surgery, vaccinations, routine examinations and 24 hour emergency care.

• Pet Care Centre, which provides domestic pets with vaccinations, medical examinations, laboratory tests, preventive care and dental treatment. It also has an Intensive Care Unit, training services, grooming parlours, park areas and a dog agility park.
• The Abu Dhabi Animal Shelter, located at the hospital, provides a temporary home to a number of stray cats and dogs until they find their new homes.
• Laboratory services, internship and research opportunities, as well as conservation and awareness services.

Since 2007, the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital allows visitors to experience an interactive tour based on falcons and falconry, known as the Falcon World Tour. This guided tour includes:

• A visit to the unique falconry museum: See the different aspects of the lives of falcons today, including falcon registration and feather repair.
• Free-flight aviary: Here the falcons are left loose and allowed to fly.
• Arabic Lunch: A lunch with traditional Arab hospitality can also be arranged on request.
• Take a photograph with the magnificent birds.
  

Medium of instruction: The tour usually takes place in English, but can be conducted in other languages like Arabic, French and German on request, and in a few other languages like Chinese and Spanish for an additional fee. 

The Falcon Release Programme was introduced by the first president of the country, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan in 1999. This was done in order to release the falcons back into nature and thus preserve the falcon population. The hospital releases peregrine and saker falcons during spring every year in a suitable, unpopulated location, depending on the availability of food and water. Data obtained from this program also helps to monitor re-adaptation to the wild, flight routes and survival rates of the falcons.

The Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital can be found near the Abu Dhabi International Airport, on the Abu Dhabi – Sweihan road. One can get here by bus, car or taxi.

Option 1:Take bus number 170 from Al Wadha till Abu Dhabi Airport, and take a taxi till the hospital from there (approximately 16 kilometres away).

Option 2: You can also take bus number A1 from Khalifa university till Abu Dhabi Airport Terminal 1, and take a taxi till the hospital from there (approximately 14 kilometres away).

Option 3: Take bus number 32, 31 or 52 from Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Street, and get off at the Abu Dhabi Airport Terminal 1, and take a taxi till the hospital from there (approximately 14 kilometres away).