Private transfer available
The hospital's own package doesn't include transport — add a private return transfer for 359 AED.
Normal vs. Comprehensive: which package fits you
The hospital runs two official packages, and the difference is bigger than the price tag. The Comprehensive Package requires a minimum of 20 adults to book — it's built for school groups, tour groups, and corporate outings, not individual travellers or families.
Unless you're booking for a large group, the Normal Package covers the same museum, hospital ward, and aviary experience in a tighter 2 hours, without needing to find 19 other people to come with you.
| Normal Package | Comprehensive Package | |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 2 hours | 3 hours |
| Includes | Museum, hospital ward, aviary, falcon photo | Same, plus buffet lunch in a traditional Arabic tent |
| Group size | No minimum | Minimum 20 adults |
| Best for | Individuals, couples, families | Schools, tour groups, corporate outings |
| Price | 169 AED adult · 59 AED child (5–9) | 229 AED adult · 69 AED child (5–9) |
Under-5s go free on both packages. A private return transfer can be added to either package for 359 AED.
Your visit, step by step
With the private return transfer add-on, you're collected from your hotel — otherwise, arrive at the hospital under your own arrangements.
Arrive at Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital in Al Shamkha for your 10am or 2pm slot.
Traditional falconry tools, equipment, and the history of the practice in the UAE.
See the examination room, with a live pedicure or feather-repair demonstration.
Watch falcons fly free in the hospital's large aviary.
Have a falcon sit on your arm for a souvenir photo — the highlight for most visitors.
Private transport back to your hotel.
What's included, and what's not
Included
- Official ADFH tour ticket for your chosen package and time slot
- Live English-speaking hospital guide (provided by ADFH)
- Falcon photo souvenir opportunity
- Buffet lunch (Comprehensive Package only)
Not included
- Private return transfer to/from your hotel (available as an add-on, 359 AED)
- Lunch (Normal Package — add the Comprehensive Package if you want it included)
- Printed photo prints or professional photography, if requested separately
- Personal expenses and tips
Who this tour suits
Wildlife and falconry enthusiasts who want to get closer to a UNESCO-listed tradition than a museum plaque allows. Families with children looking for something hands-on and educational rather than another landmark photo stop. Travellers with a longer airport layover, given the hospital's proximity to Abu Dhabi International Airport. Repeat Abu Dhabi visitors who've done the Grand Mosque and the Corniche and want something genuinely different. And school groups, tour operators, or companies with 20 or more adults, for whom the Comprehensive Package's included lunch is worth the longer format.
Worth knowing: the hospital's own tourism programme doesn't run every day — Saturdays are closed, and Fridays and Sundays only run the 10am slot. Confirm live availability with your consultant before locking in a date.
Have a date in mind?
Tell us your date, group size, and preferred package — we'll confirm availability and arrange your private transport.
Check availability
Frequently asked questions
The Normal Package (2 hours) is 169 AED per adult and 59 AED per child aged 5–9 — children under 5 go free. The Comprehensive Package (3 hours, with lunch) is 229 AED per adult and 69 AED per child, but requires a minimum of 20 adults to book. A private return transfer can be added to either package for 359 AED. Most individual travellers and families choose the Normal Package.
Monday to Thursday the hospital runs tours at 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. Friday and Sunday, only the 10:00 AM slot runs. The hospital is closed to tours on Saturday. Confirm current timings with your consultant before booking, as hospital schedules can change.
It's widely reported as the largest falcon hospital in the world, treating around 11,000 falcons a year since opening in 1999. Falconry itself is recognised on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list, which is part of why the hospital draws as many cultural visitors as animal lovers.
Yes — both packages include the chance to have a falcon sit on your arm for a souvenir photo, alongside visiting the falconry museum, the examination room, and the free-flight aviary.
The hospital's own packages don't include transport — it's about 6km from Abu Dhabi International Airport, further from central hotels, so a taxi or private transfer is worth arranging in advance. We offer a private return transfer as an add-on for 359 AED, covering pickup and drop-off from your hotel.
Duration (2 hours vs. 3 hours) and a buffet lunch in a traditional Arabic tent on the Comprehensive option — but the detail that catches people out is the Comprehensive Package's 20-adult minimum. Unless you're booking for a school group, tour group, or large corporate outing, the Normal Package is almost always the right choice.
Generally yes — it's a popular family activity and educational for kids interested in animals. Under-5s aren't charged. If you have specific concerns about age suitability for the falcon-holding photo, mention it when booking and your consultant can confirm with the hospital directly.
Yes — being only around 6km from Abu Dhabi International Airport, this is one of the more practical stops to combine with a longer layover. See the Airport Layover & Stopover Tour for a version built specifically around connection times.
