High-value bids are still the main feature of the UAE falconry market as fans and competitive breeders spend hundreds of thousands of dirhams to get the best birds before the championship season starts.
This increase in spending shows how much the culture and money of falconry matters in the Gulf region, where getting a top bird is seen as a passion and a smart way to invest.
The competition was strong and is clearly visible at the live auctions that was held during the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition. During bidding at the ADNEC Centre in Abu Dhabi one Jeer Pure Super White falcon was sold for Dh250,000.
In a moment bidder Khalid bin Saifan increased his bid from Dh210,000 to Dh250,000 in one move beating his rivals and then reciting traditional Emirati poetry to celebrate.
Other big auctions have featured birds, like the Pure Garmousha selling for up to Dh350,000 while past sales have even reached over Dh1 million, for ultra-white American birds.
Falconers are happy to spend a lot of money on these birds because of their family history, how they look, and how well they can compete. High-priced falcons are usually judged on their bloodline, the purity of their feathers, how fast they are, and their potential for breeding.
Expert handlers say that top female falcons are very valuable because they can pass on winning traits to future generations.
Besides just owning them, falcons bought at these official auctions can often get the ADIHEX Badge. This special mark lets the birds enter top national contests, including the yearly President’s Cup Falconry Competition.
Organized by the ADNEC Group with the Emirates Falconers’ Club, the event shows birds from the best international and local farms, keeping the UAE’s old traditions alive while helping a global business network.
