Dubai does not have its own separate national bird. The relevant answer for Dubai is the UAE's national bird, which is the falcon. The falcon is the official emblem of the United Arab Emirates, and since Dubai is one of the seven emirates that make up the UAE, the falcon is the bird that represents it at the national level.
What Is the National Bird of Dubai and the UAE
Marcus Chen
11 May 2026
Dubai vs. the UAE: why the answer is the same bird
Dubai is an emirate, not a sovereign country. It is one of seven emirates that joined together in 1971 to form the United Arab Emirates. National symbols like a national bird, a national flag, or a national emblem are designated at the federal (UAE) level, not at the individual emirate level. So while you might find Dubai-specific branding, slogans, or tourism imagery, there is no official "national bird of Dubai" statute or proclamation that exists separately from the UAE's federal designation.
The same logic applies to Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and the other emirates. If you search for the national bird of any individual emirate, the authoritative answer points back to the UAE's national emblem: the falcon. That is the bird to remember. If you are wondering what the national bird of Iraq is, it is a different designation from the UAE’s falcon.
What "national bird" actually means in the UAE's case
There is a small but important terminology point worth knowing. The UAE's official legal documents do not use the phrase "national bird" directly. Federal Law No. 7 of 1972 Concerning the Logo of the United Arab Emirates and its Official Seal describes the falcon as the nation's official emblem, or national logo. The law specifies that the emblem is a golden falcon with a circle in the middle containing the UAE flag, surrounded by seven stars representing the seven emirates.
Government cultural and educational materials, including resources produced by Abu Dhabi Culture, do use the term "national bird" when referring to the falcon, and they explicitly tie it to the official emblem. So the two concepts overlap completely in UAE usage: the falcon is the national emblem, and it is widely referred to as the national bird in public and educational contexts. If you ever need to verify the designation officially, the primary source to check is Federal Law No. 7 of 1972 on uaelegislation.gov.ae.
How the falcon became the UAE's official symbol
The UAE was founded on December 2, 1971, and the formal legal basis for the falcon as the national emblem was established under Federal Law No. 7 of 1972. The emblem was officially adopted on December 9, 1973, and later modified in 2008, though the falcon has remained the central figure throughout. The law requires that the National Emblem appear on official records and documents, which is why you see the golden falcon on UAE passports, government letterheads, and state communications.
The choice was not arbitrary. The founders of the UAE were drawing on a practice that had deep roots across the Arabian Peninsula: falconry. Falconry was not a sport for everyone in the region's history, it was a serious survival skill and a mark of prestige among Bedouin tribes. Choosing the falcon as the national emblem was a direct acknowledgment of that heritage at the moment the country came into being.
Why the falcon? Symbolism and cultural meaning
The UAE government's own visual identity guidelines describe the falcon as a symbol of strength, national heritage, and supreme agility. Those three qualities map directly onto what the bird represents culturally. In the desert environment of the Arabian Peninsula, a falcon's speed, precision, and endurance were genuinely admired traits. A skilled falcon could bring down prey many times its size, which made it a symbol of power achieved through training and discipline rather than brute force.
Falconry itself was and still is a way of bonding between generations. Sheikhs and rulers of the Gulf have historically practiced falconry, and the tradition was passed down as a form of cultural knowledge. When Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE, was photographed with his falcons, those images carried enormous symbolic weight. The bird was not just a legal emblem, it was a living connection to a way of life the country wanted to honor and preserve.
It is also worth noting that in 2016, UNESCO inscribed falconry practiced across multiple countries including the UAE on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. That recognition reinforced at an international level what the UAE had been saying domestically for decades: falconry is not a relic, it is living culture.
The falcon across the Gulf region
The UAE is not alone in centering the falcon in its national identity. Several neighboring countries share a deep connection to falconry and feature falcons prominently in their national symbols. Saudi Arabia features the Saker Falcon on its national emblem, and Qatar also uses the falcon as a key national symbol. Saudi Arabia’s national bird is widely identified as the Saker Falcon as well Saudi Arabia features the Saker Falcon. Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Jordan each have their own national birds with ties to the region's natural and cultural landscape. To answer what is the national bird of Jordan, you can look up Jordan’s official national bird designation and its species details Jordan each have their own national birds. In Bahrain, the national bird is the bulbul Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Jordan each have their own national birds. For the answer to “what is the national bird of Oman,” look at the bird recognized in Oman’s national symbolism. Kuwait’s national bird is the bustard (houbara), which is also tied to the country’s desert heritage national bird of Kuwait. The prevalence of the falcon across Gulf states makes sense given the shared Bedouin heritage, but the UAE's emblem stands out for making the falcon the sole, central figure of its state symbol rather than one element among many.
Facts and common questions about the UAE's falcon
Which species of falcon is it?
This is one of the most common follow-up questions, and the answer requires a bit of nuance. The national emblem depicts a generic golden falcon rather than specifying a single species by name in the law. However, the Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug, known in Arabic as الصقر الحر) is the species most closely associated with UAE falconry heritage and is the subject of significant conservation attention. The Environment Agency Abu Dhabi lists the Saker Falcon as threatened with extinction according to the IUCN, which is part of why UAE conservation programs take the species so seriously.
What does the UAE do to protect falcons?
Conservation efforts in the UAE go well beyond symbolism. The Sheikh Zayed Falcon Release Programme, run under the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi, has been responsible for rehabilitating and releasing falcons back into the wild. The UAE also hosts some of the most advanced falcon hospitals in the world, including the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital, which treats thousands of birds every year. Falcons in the UAE can even get their own passports, issued through official channels, for travel during the falconry season.
Does the emblem design ever change?
The core symbol, a golden falcon, has remained constant since the emblem was adopted in 1973. The design was modified in 2008 to update some visual details, but the falcon remained the central figure. Federal Law No. 7 of 1972 still serves as the legal foundation for the emblem, and the law specifies that the National Emblem must be used on official records and documents, ensuring its continued presence in state life.
A quick reference summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| National bird / emblem | Falcon (golden falcon) |
| Legal basis | Federal Law No. 7 of 1972 |
| Emblem officially adopted | December 9, 1973 |
| Last design modification | 2008 |
| Most associated falcon species | Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug) |
| Does Dubai have a separate bird? | No, the UAE national emblem applies |
| Where to verify officially | uaelegislation.gov.ae |
Where to go from here
If you want to verify the official designation yourself, the most direct route is to look up Federal Law No. 7 of 1972 on the UAE's official legislation portal at uaelegislation.gov.ae. The description of the national emblem in that law is your authoritative source. For species-specific information on the Saker Falcon, the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi's natural history pages are detailed and reliable. And if you are curious about how the UAE's falcon compares to national birds chosen by neighboring countries, the Gulf region offers a fascinating set of comparisons, from Saudi Arabia's falcon to the national birds of Oman, Bahrain, and Qatar, each with its own distinct story.
FAQ
Does Dubai officially have a different national bird than the rest of the UAE?
No, Dubai does not designate a separate bird at the emirate level. Officially, you should treat the UAE national emblem as the reference point for Dubai as well, since Dubai is one of the seven emirates under federal identity symbols.
Is the UAE’s falcon (the “national bird”) the same thing as the Saker Falcon?
The UAE emblem is legally described as a golden falcon, without naming a single scientific species. In practice, the Saker Falcon is the species most associated with UAE falconry and conservation messaging, so you may see it emphasized even though the emblem design itself stays generic.
How can I verify the national bird designation in the most authoritative way?
If you are trying to confirm what is “official,” rely on the wording describing the National Emblem in Federal Law No. 7 of 1972, not on tourism blogs or general articles. Many public materials use “national bird” language for the falcon, but the legal basis is about the emblem/logo.
Where would I see the national bird symbol used in official Dubai or UAE documents?
Because the emblem appears on official records, you will see it on UAE passports and state letterheads, which can be a practical clue when you want to check the federal symbol used nationwide. Dubai branding may differ, but federal documents should reflect the same emblem.
Why doesn’t the law just name the exact falcon species as the national bird?
In the emblem’s legal description, the species name is not the primary legal element, so you should not expect one UAE-wide “single species” statement like some countries provide for their national birds. When people ask for the national bird species, they are usually asking an interpretation question rather than a strict legal wording question.
If I want a Dubai-focused answer, what should I look up next?
For Dubai-specific interest, the most accurate next step is to ask what UAE federal emblem the city participates in, then separately research local falconry and conservation programs. Dubai may have community and tourism content, but the national-level symbol is still federal.
What is the most common misconception people have when asking about Dubai’s national bird?
A common mistake is treating “national bird” as something Dubai can set independently like a standalone country. Dubai is not sovereign, so federal identity rules control national symbols, even though Dubai may have its own tourism imagery.
How should I compare UAE’s falcon symbol to national birds in nearby Gulf countries?
If you are comparing the UAE to neighboring countries, pay attention to whether the country’s national symbol is a single species with a stated name or a broader falcon emblem. In the Gulf, some countries use specific falcon species prominently, while the UAE emblem is framed generically as a golden falcon.
Is there a practical conservation reason the falcon gets so much attention in the UAE?
If your goal is conservation-focused learning, use UAE conservation program details rather than relying only on symbolism. Programs such as falcon release and specialized falcon medical care explain how the emblem’s heritage connects to current wildlife management.