In a scene straight out of an Arabian fairytale, a man in traditional Emirati attire recently turned heads at Abu Dhabi airport — not for his grace or poise, but for his feathered companion perched calmly on his arm: a falcon, majestic and utterly unbothered by the hustle and bustle of international travel.
But what truly left passengers and netizens spellbound was the little booklet nestled in the man’s hand — a passport. Not his. The bird’s.
Yes, in the United Arab Emirates, falcons don’t just soar through desert skies; they fly in style, quite literally — with their own government-issued passports.
A now-viral video captured the magical moment when this regal raptor boarded a flight to Morocco, leaving a fellow passenger both bewildered and utterly charmed. The brief exchange between the two men — one awed, the other unfazed — has since captured the internet's imagination.
“Is it flying with us?” the incredulous passenger asked, glancing at the falcon.
“Yeah, of course it is flying with us in the plane,” the man replied with the calm authority of someone who’s done this a dozen times before.
The falcon, regal and poised, clutched its handler’s arm like a seasoned traveller. As cameras rolled, the man proudly flipped open the falcon’s passport, revealing details that would rival any human's travelogue. “He's a male. He’s from Spain,” he read aloud, his voice tinged with affection.
The passport — complete with pages detailing the falcon’s gender, origin, and travel history — wasn’t a novelty. In the UAE, these documents have been mandatory since 2015, a bold step by authorities to curb illegal trafficking and track the dwindling population of these iconic birds. The initiative is as symbolic as it is strategic: falcons are more than pets in the Emirates; they are emblems of heritage, power, and prestige.
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What might seem extraordinary to most is rather routine for many Emiratis. Falcons have long shared an almost mythical bond with the people of the Gulf, gracing family portraits, partaking in sport, and now — flying in business class.
Social media, of course, erupted in awe. “He was so calm and decent. You could tell he’s used to it,” one user commented. Another quipped, “The owner was adorable. He gets that this isn’t something we see every day.”
Indeed, for many outside the region, this encounter was an eye-opener into a world where falcons aren’t just birds — they are fellow citizens of the sky, treated with reverence and respect.
As the aircraft soared toward Morocco, it wasn’t just carrying passengers — it carried a piece of Emirati soul, wrapped in feathers and flanked by tradition. And while most travellers board with passports and suitcases, this particular flyer needed only a steady arm and the wind of heritage beneath its wings.
Source: With inputs from India Today