Hunting Rules in Abu Dhabi: Species, Locations, and Required Licenses

The hunting system in Abu Dhabi is not simply about granting or prohibiting hunting; the rules depend on the location, the hunted object, and the method used. These rules cover traditional falconry in open wild areas, as well as organized hunting events in Al Marzoom and hunting with firearms in Telal.

With the start of the 2026-27 traditional falconry season, scheduled for October 20, the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) activated its hunting licensing service through the TAMM platform, giving falconers time to complete documentation before the season begins.

If you want to hunt with a falcon

Traditional ground hunting, or falconry, is regulated by EAD in accordance with Abu Dhabi's hunting laws and regulations. According to current EAD guidelines, licensed falconers are only permitted to hunt domestic Houbara bustards. It is also clearly stipulated that hunting, disturbing wild animals, birds, and reptiles is prohibited; the authorized game in this system is the domestic Houbara.

The 2026-27 traditional hunting season will run from October 20, 2026, to February 15, 2027. The licensing service became available through TAMM on August 28, the day ADIHEX 2026 opened, allowing falconers to obtain permits in advance. The license fee is 127 dirhams per season, according to Executive Council Chairman's Resolution No. 88 of 2025. The system has been operational for several years; EAD reports that over 12,108 falconry permits were issued during the first five regulated seasons, from 2021-22 to 2025-26.

Who can get the license?

EAD requirements state that the traditional hunting license is intended for UAE citizens aged 18 and older. Falcons used for hunting must be registered with the relevant federal authority, and the license is issued for one season. Furthermore, it is non-transferable, meaning a licensed falconer cannot simply allow another person to use their permit. The license must be kept by the hunter during the hunt and presented to competent authorities or relevant bodies upon request.

Where can falconry take place?

Having a license does not grant a falconer the right to hunt anywhere in Abu Dhabi. EAD specifies that falconry is permitted in open wild areas provided that hunters maintain a distance of at least 2 km from main and secondary roads, as well as from certain restricted or prohibited areas. These areas include: nature reserves and protected territories; forests; residential areas; oil production sites; military installations; and other designated prohibited and restricted zones. Falconry is limited to the period between sunrise and sunset. Hunters are also forbidden from trampling vegetation or causing damage to it. Another condition is environmental cleanliness, with littering at hunting sites being prohibited.

What happens to the Houbara they hunt?

The fact that the authorized game is the domestic Houbara bustard is closely linked to one of the UAE's largest wildlife conservation programs. Ali Al Shamsi, Project Manager at the International Houbara Conservation Fund, stated that the organization breeds Houbara in captivity, releases birds into their natural habitats, and provides birds for controlled hunting programs in designated reserves. He reported that the organization produces approximately 90,000–100,000 Houbara annually at its breeding centers in the UAE and abroad, after which the birds return to their natural ranges. Al Shamsi noted that the Houbara conservation program in the UAE began in 1977 when it was launched under the late Sheikh Zayed, and later in 1989, the Suwaiqan National Bird Research Center was established to study, breed, and release Houbara. He emphasized that conservation efforts aim to support both the species itself and the continuation of falconry, which is closely tied to the Houbara as game. The breeding process uses artificial incubation and controlled breeding methods, not cloning or genetic engineering, in order to reflect natural ecological and genetic conditions.

What if you want a more controlled hunting experience?

There are also specialized hunting reserves in Abu Dhabi where the experience is organized differently than hunting in the open desert. One such location is the Al Marzoom Hunting Reserve in Al Dhafra. This reserve covers an area of about 200 square kilometers and offers a traditional hunting experience involving falcons and Saluki. It is designed for controlled, sustainable hunting, not unlimited wild animal hunting. The reserve's hunting program includes managed Houbara, rabbits, and other game supplied through breeding and conservation programs. It is important to note that firearms are not used for the traditional hunting experience in Al Marzoom.

What about hunting with a firearm?

A crucial distinction must be made here. A firearm license is not equivalent to a wild game hunting license. UAE weapons legislation regulates the possession, acquisition, and carrying of firearms, while Abu Dhabi's environmental regulations govern wild game hunting. In other words, possessing a legally licensed firearm does not give a person the right to take it into the Abu Dhabi desert and hunt wild animals. For the general public wishing to have a controlled hunting experience using firearms, the Barari Hunting and Falconry resort in Telal offers a different approach. Saif Al Saleh, Hunting Manager at Barari Hunting and Falconry, stated that 'anyone can' participate in the hunting experience, provided participants are over 18 years old. Younger participants may participate under supervision. Al Saleh clarified that hunters do not bring their own weapons; Telal provides the firearms, vehicles, and professional hunting supervision for this experience. Hunting with firearms is also restricted to specific types of game. He added that the animals available for hunting are domesticated, not wild animals taken from the desert. Game reserve hunting is conducted under the supervision of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi. This controlled model is a key difference between hunting in Telal and participating in licensed traditional falconry in the open desert.

Can I buy a hunting rifle at ADIHEX and then go hunting?

Not automatically. ADIHEX has separate procedures and guidelines regarding the purchase and sale of hunting weapons. However, purchasing or owning a licensed firearm and a permit to hunt wild animals are two different matters. The weapons licensing system deals with the weapon itself; Abu Dhabi's environmental regulations determine whether, where, when, and how wild animals can be hunted. Therefore, buying a hunting rifle at the exhibition does not grant the buyer permission to take it into the desert and hunt.

What are hunters prohibited from doing?

EAD rules go beyond simply indicating permitted game and locations. Hunters are required to carry their permits, adhere to the conditions specified therein, avoid disturbing wildlife, and protect vegetation. EAD has also identified practices such as the use of bird sound mimicking devices and traps among violations. Such devices can concentrate birds in one place and give the hunter an unfair advantage. The agency's broader goal is to allow traditional ground hunting to continue while controlling its impact on wildlife and habitat. The decision to open the 2026-27 licensing service before the season also aims to give falconers sufficient time to obtain permits, increase compliance, and reduce the load on the licensing system at the start of the season.

So, where can one hunt in Abu Dhabi?

The simplest way to understand this system is to view hunting opportunities in Abu Dhabi in three categories:

Open Wilderness: Falconry

Licensed UAE falconers who meet the requirements may only hunt domestic Houbara, subject to EAD restrictions regarding location, time, and conduct.

Al Marzoom Hunting Reserve: Traditional Hunting

A managed reserve offering traditional hunting with falcons and Saluki, featuring controlled game and no use of firearms.

Telal Resort: Controlled Hunting

Managed hunting activities where members of the general public can participate in hunting with firearms, falcons, and Saluki. Firearm hunters use the reserve's own weapons, vehicles, and professional supervision, while firearm hunting focuses on specific domesticated game species, such as Oryx and Dorcas gazelle. This is managed hunting activity in Al Ain, where the general public can participate in hunting with firearms, using the reserve's own equipment rather than their personal licensed weapons.

In conclusion, the system implies that traditional hunting remains possible in Abu Dhabi, but not as unrestricted activity. The license, location, game, and method are all important, as the rules are designed to preserve a centuries-old tradition while simultaneously tightening control over wildlife and its habitat.

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www.khaleejtimes.comSeptember 4, 05:00

The Falconers' History from Abu Dhabi: From Desert Hunting in Childhood to Modern Strict Regulations

When Mohammed Al Remaiti was thirteen years old, his hunting trips involved deep immersion into the desert with his grandfather and uncle. They would take everything necessary for sleeping, cooking, and surviving far from roads and services.

At that time, rabbits were abundant, whereas finding houbara bustards and gazelles was more difficult. The lessons he learned related not only to the hunt itself but also to patience and respect for the desert.

Decades later, Al Remaiti, who now holds the position of events manager at the Abu Dhabi Falconry Club, continues falconry, although the experience surrounding this tradition has undergone radical changes.

Al Remaiti recalls his early impressions, saying: 'When you go hunting, you must remember that you are going to an area where all the infrastructure you are used to is absent.' He adds that in such conditions, one learns patience and how to interact with nature, while the person bears responsibility for it, leaving no trash and not damaging the natural landscape.

Some of Al Remaiti's earliest memories of hunting take him far beyond the organized events available today. He remembers trips with his grandfather into the Empty Quarter, where they could cover hundreds of kilometers without encountering anyone else. Modern conveniences were absent there.

'You sleep on the ground, under the open sky,' he described this experience, talking about sitting around a campfire far from mobile phones and the comforts of modern life. The only means of transport was a vehicle; everything else had to be carried with them.

For Al Remaiti, there was no reason to fear in such an isolated environment. He explains: 'For us Bedouins, nothing scared us because we are of nature, and nature is a part of us.' The reward was the opportunity itself to experience this and go hunting.

He remembers that there were many rabbits in the wild back then, while finding houbara and gazelles was harder. His hunting experience over time included rabbits, houbara, and gazelles, alongside falconry and other traditional activities.

When asked about preparing for today's hunt, the list he mentions still sounds very traditional: food, kitchen equipment, bedding, clothing, coffee and tea, falcon feed, and bird tracking gear. He also takes a radio for communication with companions.

However, the process itself has become significantly more accessible. Instead of traveling for weeks into remote desert areas, hunters today can use managed reserves and other organized sites that allow them to practice this tradition closer to home.

Al Remaiti considers this one of the most significant changes. He notes that 'today the government supports reserves and captive-bred animals.' The development of reserves allows families to engage in this activity closer to their residence without disrupting children's work or studies. He emphasizes that one can practice this sport near home or in the vicinity without interfering with children's work or studies, and then return.

However, greater accessibility does not mean a complete abandonment of the traditional experience, says Al Remaiti. For those who wish it, hunting can still mean stepping away from modern life and spending time in the desert. He describes the appeal of this as an opportunity to feel nature in its traditional form, rather than just turning the activity into a modern recreational outing.

For him, the responsibility associated with venturing into the desert has always been part of the lesson. A hunter must not leave trash or damage the landscape. This principle is now integrated into a much more formalized system of environmental rules regulating hunting in Abu Dhabi.

Today, the rules regarding hunting are much stricter than when Al Remaiti first accompanied his grandfather. In Abu Dhabi's open natural areas, traditional falconry is regulated by permits and restrictions regarding the location and time of the hunt, as well as what can be taken.

Hunters are required to avoid protected areas, roads, residential areas, and other restricted locations, while ensuring they do not disturb wildlife or damage vegetation.

Al Remaiti believes that the growth of managed hunting reserves has helped make this tradition both safer and more accessible. He asserts that 'the state does not miss opportunities to support this sport,' pointing to organized competitions, hunting reserves, captive breeding, and other forms of support.

For him, such support means that today hunters have few reasons to risk traveling to places where they should not hunt.

The transformation of hunting is also closely linked to nature conservation. Houbara has long been a central figure in falconry, but protecting its populations required a serious shift towards captive breeding and release programs. Ali Al Shamsi, project manager at the International Houbara Conservation Fund, reported that the organization annually produces about 90,000–100,000 houbara, releasing the birds into their natural habitats in the UAE and abroad.

According to Al Shamsi, the UAE's efforts to conserve houbara began in 1977 when the late Sheikh Zayed launched the project, and the National Bird Research Centre was established later in Suwaiq in 1989 to study, breed, and release houbara.

For Al Remaiti, nature conservation and the continuation of falconry are not competing ideas, but increasingly intertwined concepts. The experience inherited from his grandfather was about understanding the desert and living with it, not just extracting resources from it. Today, the same philosophy coexists with licenses, protected areas, managed reserves, and captive breeding programs.

The equipment may have changed, the journey may have become shorter, and the rules may have become stricter. But the reason why Al Remaiti continues to hunt is rooted in the same experience he gained in childhood. He still prepares provisions, cares for his falcon, and goes into the desert. The difference is that today's hunter is surrounded by more infrastructure and bears a much greater responsibility for understanding the rules governing the land and wildlife.

For someone who started at the age of thirteen, following his grandfather into one of the world's most remote deserts, this may be the biggest evolution: the tradition has changed for survival.