A man holds a falcon during a hunting trip in Iraq’s southern desert.
Iraq to issue falcon-hunting permits for 2025–2026 season starting November 1
BAGHDAD — The Ministry of Interior announced that entry permits for Arab and foreign falcon hunters for the 2025–2026 season will be issued starting November 1, under official regulations governing the activity.
Ministry spokesperson Brig. Gen. Miqdad Miri said the hunting season will open on December 1, 2025, and continue until February 1, 2026.
He said each group may include up to five hunters with a permit fee of $125,000, while larger groups of up to 15 must pay $325,000. Miri added that the fee will double for any hunting conducted outside approved regulations.
According to the ministry, permits will be issued electronically through the Interior Ministry’s e-visa service. Applications must be submitted by licensed companies through the Directorate of Private Security Companies Affairs and include security clearances and a signed service contract.
Each licensed group must have at least five and no more than 15 hunters, along with their guides. The fees cover food, transportation, and logistical services during the season. Hunting will be limited to designated areas in the governorates of Najaf, Diwaniyah, Muthanna, Maysan, Dhi Qar, Basra, and parts of Nineveh, Kirkuk, and Salah al-Din.
Applicants are required to submit a list of hunters’ names, nationalities, passport copies, the number and type of falcons, and hunting equipment details. Companies are responsible for ensuring hunters comply with environmental and safety regulations.
The ministry warned that anyone caught hunting outside licensed areas or outside the approved season will face penalties, including revocation of permits and fines of up to $400,000.
Yesterday, the Interior Ministry announced the arrest of four Kuwaiti hunters and their Iraqi guide in the Muthanna desert, seizing five falcons and two Kuwaiti-registered vehicles. Authorities said the group entered Iraq on tourist visas and violated hunting regulations.
