Hey guys! I’m Hijas and I live in Abu Dhabi, the amazing capital of the United Arab Emirates. Originating from Sri Lanka, a country rich of culture and delicious food, I have always been drawn towards a destination’s culture and culinary scene. Now that I reside in Abu Dhabi I enjoy discovering more about the interesting culture and giving people information that helps them connect more with this amazing city. My favorite part of being a guide is giving the customer a new perspective of the place.
One amazing place that lets you know more about an age-old custom that still runs strong in the Bedouin and original Emirati tribes is the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital. You must’ve heard quite a lot about this place, but visiting it gives you an entirely new experience. Falconry is a sport of training falcons and honing their hunting skills to use them as hunters. The Abu Dhabi falcon hospital is the first of its kind and has been going strong for almost 2 decades. With more than 6,000 birds getting treated every year, the premises has guided tours that explain every aspect of falconry; from weapons to techniques and they also issue falcon passports! How cool is that?
A guided tour is a must as you get the chance to observe a falcon receiving a pedicure, understand the history of falconry, learn about the falcon’s physiology before watching them fly freely in the open-flight aviary. You will also be given a tour through the tools room showcasing all sorts of equipment used for falconry. And for the last, my favorite part of all! The chance to hold a falcon in your arms and see its majesty up close. That specific experience will be one of the stories you will tell your grandkids someday.