Female and male African grey parrots

“Parrots” covers a wide group, from budgies and lovebirds to conures, African greys and macaws. All are social, clever birds, and the larger species can live for decades, so a parrot is a long commitment. They need daily time out of the cage, toys to chew and plenty of company. Noise is the biggest surprise for apartment owners, because many parrots call loudly at dawn and dusk, and larger species are far louder than a budgie.

In the UAE, keep the cage indoors, away from direct sun and strong air conditioning draughts. A balcony in summer can be dangerous within minutes, and a parrot must never be left in a parked car. Fumes from non-stick pans, scented candles and aerosol sprays can harm birds, so keep the kitchen well away from the cage. For feather plucking, fussy eating or anything that seems off, ask your vet, ideally an avian vet.

Ask for any paperwork that shows where the bird came from, such as a closed ring, microchip number or the breeder’s records. Some parrot species have extra protection under wildlife trade rules, and a bird brought from abroad needs an import permit and health certificate, so check the current rules with MOCCAE or your municipality. On AnimalMarket24, asking prices have mostly been between AED 1,000 and AED 6,000, depending heavily on species. Rehoming an adult bird is another option.