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Emirati traditions

Falconry

Falconry is the art of training and flying falcons, and sometimes eagles, hawks and other birds of prey. It has been practised for more than 4,000 years. The current UNESCO listing, dated 2021, covers 24 countries, the UAE among them.

Updated October 2026 · Facts checked 22 October 2026

Year on the UNESCO list
20211
Year on the UNESCO list
Countries on the listing
241
Countries on the listing

Falconry

At a glance

At a glance
Item Detail
Name in Arabic الصقارة
UNESCO list Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
Year on the list 2021
Listed by 24 countries, including the United Arab Emirates

Source: UNESCO: Falconry, a living human heritage1

From hunting to heritage

Falconry began as a way of getting food. Over time it became a social and recreational practice and a way of connecting with nature, and today people of all ages take part.1

Passing it on

Skills pass from generation to generation through mentoring, within families and in training clubs. Modern falconry focuses on protecting falcons, their prey and their habitats, and relies on falcon hospitals, breeding centres and makers of traditional equipment.1

Sources

  1. UNESCO: Falconry, a living human heritage
  2. UNESCO: United Arab Emirates, elements on the Intangible Cultural Heritage lists

Facts checked 22 October 2026. Prepared by Invest-Emirates.ae for general information.

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