Souq Waqif Falcon Hospital

Definitely an unexpected and interesting find. Can never imagine there's a hospital built dedicated to falcons in Qatar, Souq Waqif! The falcons are treasured pets in Qatar and are beautiful elegant birds!

Falcon Souq was one of the my top destinations to visit while in Doha. I appreciate unique opportunity to experience and see firsthand this respected, powerful, ancient art of falconry- a living human heritage. Truly unforgettable moment!

Whatever you do, don’t miss the Falcon Souq, right next door. This is one of the most unique places in Qatar. You’ll see real falcons tied to their stands, you can even go close to them, take pictures, and if you want to learn more, some shop owners will tell you how these birds are trained for traditional sports. It’s honestly something you won’t see in many countries. You can check our video online to see the souq waqif.

This is a veterinary hospital that treats specially birds. If you wanna see falcons here's the ideal place in Doha. Falcons can be seen even outside of the hospital. I didn't have time to go into the hospital to observe. But was able to capture few close ups of the falcons.

Located next to Souq Waqif, the Falcon Souq is definitely a place to visit. I went there in the morning at around 0800 and it was pleasantly quiet and an excellent time to stroll around and take pictures. Most of the shops allowed me to go inside to look at the falcons and to take pictures. I also visited the Falcon hospital - apparently the only dedicated falcon hospital in the world. The market itself has an interesting architecture / building style. There are some beautiful horses too and the view of Doha skyline, the water and Dhows (traditional boats) just outside the Souq is stunning.

Nice to watch the birds and the interactions between potential buyers and sellers. Very atmospheric and exotic for someone not from the Middle East.

The Falcon Souq, which is close to the Souq Waqif, is an interesting look into the sport of falconry, with a dozen or so shops that sell the birds and related paraphernalia, such as hoods, stands, gloves, leashes, and the like. The falcons can sell for $600 to as much as $100,000, depending upon the skill of a particular bird. There's even a falcon hospital on the grounds of the souq. Falcons are generally kept hooded to keep them calm until their handlers wish to put them into "hunting mode." It was fascinating and a bit unnerving to be so close to these raptors. Note that there is a "bird market" within the Souq Waqif. That market is NOT the falcon market, but specializes in other sort of birds as pets, e.g., parrots, pigeons, parakeets, and the like. The falcon market is nearby, so just ask one of the shopkeepers how to get to the falcon shops.

A place where you will find these mesmerizing Falcons in different sizes all at one place and also you will be amazed to see the varieties of accessories for the falcons all being made by made by hand.