Our Working Wonders of the UAE series takes you to some of the country's most recognisable destinations to uncover the daily duties of the talented employees working there
Presidents, puppies and birds of prey are just another day in the office for Dr Margit Muller.
The “falcon whisperer” has spent 22 years at Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital, nurturing more than 11,500 birds a year back to good health.
When she arrived from Germany in 2001, Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital was a small team of just 20.
Today, the executive director and chief veterinary surgeon leads 140 staff members in caring for the birds, while overseeing the hospital's laboratory, pet care centre and animal shelter.
She invited The National along to the world’s biggest falcon hospital to meet her feathered friends and show us why it is her dream workplace.
Why did you decide to become a vet?
When I was five years old, I knew I would become a doctor, so I studied very hard and eventually did my PhD in falcon medicine.
I came to the UAE in 2001 to work as a vet at the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital and within six months I was running it.
I have a kind of intuition if a falcon is sick, I can just feel that something is wrong and that is how I got my “falcon whisperer” nickname.
When I look at them and into their eyes, it's like they are begging me for a chance, so that's what I always do.
What does your job involve?
I still treat falcons in the hospital every day. Aside from that, I look after the Abu Dhabi Animal Centre for rescue cats and dogs, and I also take care of VIP visits. It certainly never gets boring.
The falcon hospital also has a huge laboratory for medical research. In 2008, I was presented with the Abu Dhabi Award by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed for discovering two new diseases in falcons and finding a cure for them.
It is the highest civilian honour in Abu Dhabi and I was so grateful to meet Sheikh Mohamed. It helped me understand how he built the UAE and share in the vision he had for the country.
What are some of the most exciting aspects?
The hospital is ranked as one of the main tourism destinations in Abu Dhabi and we’ve had a lot of high-profile visitors over the years.
Former US president George W Bush visited us in 2008 and he loved it. He was so nice and very humble, and he sent me a handwritten thank you letter afterwards. I was blown away.
We also had Queen Camilla visit us, although she was Duchess of Cornwall at the time.
She was a bit shy in the beginning because she had had a bad experience with an eagle in the past, but she soon warmed up and bonded with a very cute little owl.
She ended up staying far longer than planned and was asking amazing questions.
Being able to share our love for falcons with such esteemed guests is a privilege and it gives them a completely different understanding of our cultural heritage.
What are the most challenging parts?
The most challenging time was when I arrived at the falcon hospital 22 years ago.
The falconers were not used to having a female, western veterinary surgeon and it took time to build the trust and for them to accept my knowledge and methods.
Falcons look so majestic and magnificent, but at the same time they are so delicate and so sensitive and that is a huge challenge as a veterinary surgeon.
You have to be extremely fast and accurate in your diagnosis, and then be able to implement the correct treatment protocol as soon as possible because with falcons there is no time to lose.
What might surprise people about falcons?
Everybody thinks all falcons are the same but they're not. Each one has a very individual character, just like humans.
Some are super nice and friendly and affectionate, and others are really naughty but we know how to manage them here.
Sometimes when you pass by, they will stick their beaks out and try to nip your legs because they think you are prey.
In the past, I’ve kept falcons as pets in my home and I used to cruise around in my car with them in the passenger seat.
Now I have seven dogs, eight parrots, three budgies, nine horses and three turtles. My home is like a mini zoo, but there’s always room for more falcons.
What was your most memorable day at work?
We once had a Peregrine falcon that was hit by a car and the tyre had crushed her skull.
When she came in, everybody said it was a hopeless case but she looked into my eyes and it was like she was pleading with me to save her.
She survived a two-and-a-half-hour surgery and over the next three months I did another seven surgeries right down to reconstructing her ears.
When she went back to her owner, he couldn't believe his eyes. He was so moved and broke down in tears in the reception area.
He later took her for hunting and said she was even better than before. I was so proud of her and she lived on for many years.
If you weren’t a vet, what would you be doing?
When you have this kind of intuition, it doesn’t just remain with the birds - it also helps people.
As well as being a vet, I’m also a certified life and mental health coach, and I love helping humans as much as falcons.
In the end, you know life is not about money or material things. It is about how you can help others, either animals or people.
All that’s left of us in the end is our legacy and the impact you have on the lives of others.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Why are you, you?
Why are you, you?
From this question, a new beginning.
From this question, a new destiny.
For you are a world, and a meeting of worlds.
Our dream is to unite that which has been
separated by history.
To return the many to the one.
A great story unites us all,
beyond colour and creed and gender.
The lightning flash of art
And the music of the heart.
We reflect all cultures, all ways.
We are a twenty first century wonder.
Universal ideals, visions of art and truth.
Now is the turning point of cultures and hopes.
Come with questions, leave with visions.
We are the link between the past and the future.
Here, through art, new possibilities are born. And
new answers are given wings.
Why are you, you?
Because we are mirrors of each other.
Because together we create new worlds.
Together we are more powerful than we know.
We connect, we inspire, we multiply illuminations
with the unique light of art.
Ben Okri,
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Earth under attack: Cosmic impacts throughout history
- 4.5 billion years ago: Mars-sized object smashes into the newly-formed Earth, creating debris that coalesces to form the Moon
- 66 million years ago: 10km-wide asteroid crashes into the Gulf of Mexico, wiping out over 70 per cent of living species – including the dinosaurs.
- 50,000 years ago: 50m-wide iron meteor crashes in Arizona with the violence of 10 megatonne hydrogen bomb, creating the famous 1.2km-wide Barringer Crater
- 1490: Meteor storm over Shansi Province, north-east China when large stones “fell like rain”, reportedly leading to thousands of deaths.
- 1908: 100-metre meteor from the Taurid Complex explodes near the Tunguska river in Siberia with the force of 1,000 Hiroshima-type bombs, devastating 2,000 square kilometres of forest.
- 1998: Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 breaks apart and crashes into Jupiter in series of impacts that would have annihilated life on Earth.
-2013: 10,000-tonne meteor burns up over the southern Urals region of Russia, releasing a pressure blast and flash that left over 1600 people injured.
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
Barbie
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Common OCD symptoms and how they manifest
Checking: the obsession or thoughts focus on some harm coming from things not being as they should, which usually centre around the theme of safety. For example, the obsession is “the building will burn down”, therefore the compulsion is checking that the oven is switched off.
Contamination: the obsession is focused on the presence of germs, dirt or harmful bacteria and how this will impact the person and/or their loved ones. For example, the obsession is “the floor is dirty; me and my family will get sick and die”, the compulsion is repetitive cleaning.
Orderliness: the obsession is a fear of sitting with uncomfortable feelings, or to prevent harm coming to oneself or others. Objectively there appears to be no logical link between the obsession and compulsion. For example,” I won’t feel right if the jars aren’t lined up” or “harm will come to my family if I don’t line up all the jars”, so the compulsion is therefore lining up the jars.
Intrusive thoughts: the intrusive thought is usually highly distressing and repetitive. Common examples may include thoughts of perpetrating violence towards others, harming others, or questions over one’s character or deeds, usually in conflict with the person’s true values. An example would be: “I think I might hurt my family”, which in turn leads to the compulsion of avoiding social gatherings.
Hoarding: the intrusive thought is the overvaluing of objects or possessions, while the compulsion is stashing or hoarding these items and refusing to let them go. For example, “this newspaper may come in useful one day”, therefore, the compulsion is hoarding newspapers instead of discarding them the next day.
Source: Dr Robert Chandler, clinical psychologist at Lighthouse Arabia
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
The Birkin bag is made by Hermès.
It is named after actress and singer Jane Birkin
Noone from Hermès will go on record to say how much a new Birkin costs, how long one would have to wait to get one, and how many bags are actually made each year.
Stage results
1. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) Deceuninck-QuickStep 4:39:05
2. Michael Matthews (AUS) Team BikeExchange 0:00:08
3. Primoz Roglic (SLV) Jumbo-Visma same time
4. Jack Haig (AUS) Bahrain Victorious s.t
5. Wilco Kelderman (NED) Bora-Hansgrohe s.t
6. Tadej Pogacar (SLV) UAE Team Emirates s.t
7. David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama-FDJ s.t
8. Sergio Higuita Garcia (COL) EF Education-Nippo s.t
9. Bauke Mollema (NED) Trek-Segafredo s.t
10. Geraint Thomas (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers s.t
More from Aya Iskandarani
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
