Construction of the National Falcon Centre was recently completed at a cost of Dhs16 million. Mattar Al Tayer, assistant director General for Roads & General Projects Affairs said the project, which took seven months to complete, will become a land mark in the city of Dubai as a centre for specialised trade and tourism.
He said that the Nad Al Sheba facility will also be an urban and heritage landmark of Dubai and will be the only such place in the UAE and the Middle East.
Set in a good environment, the building is an ideal place for all activities related to falconry including falcon hunting.Al Tayer said the centre has a falcon Souq for falcon traders and falcon breeders that comprises 20 shops of 7 x 11 m for selling falcons.
Built in the traditional architectural pattern, the shops surround an area covered by a huge tent. The Souq also has a model of a traditional well and is distinctively attractive due to the provision of different characteristics of a traditional market.
The souq also comprises of a small mosque, which is a replica of the old Masjid Bin Suroor in the Shindagha area, a cafeteria, gift shops, in addition to an area outside the souq for training in falconry. The entire area, including the courtyard, which is covered by a tent and the public area are centrally air-conditioned. The centre will also include an exhibition and a museum featuring the history of falcons in three halls and another hall for light and sound show and 3D shows.
The first hall will be used to showcase falcon sporting and its history as it was the sport practised by kings in the Arabian Gulf. The second hall is dedicated to the life of falcons, its breeding and variety of falcons used for hunting. The 3D film hall will focus on the modern and traditional methods of falcon hunting in the UAE, its heritage, and training. The fourth hall would provide information about falcon hatching, caring the health of falcons and bringing them up in cages.
The entrance of the National Falcon Centre, spread over an area of 27 500 m2 in Al Markadh area, is located on Muscat Road near the Camel Race track and Camel Souq. Al Tayer said that while designing the centre, the traditional architectural patterns were taken in to consideration in all the aspects of the structure. There are three Barjeels (wind towers) with a height of 27 m each.
He said that the shops in the souq have already been rented out. A veterinary doctor is also made available at the souq, which has been provided with a large car parking area, besides, the visitors can also use the parking area of the Camel Souq, said Al Tayer.
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