High Bidding and Heavy Investment Mark the Prized Falcon Auction Ahead of Adihex in Abu Dhabi

Falcon merchants and breeders placed massive bids at an auction in Abu Dhabi on Sunday evening, purchasing birds of prey for hundreds of thousands of dirhams. The event took place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre ahead of the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition, which is set to begin on August 28.

The highest price of the evening was fetched by a Pure Gyr falcon, which was sold for Dh255,000. Weighing over two kilograms, the bird originated from a UAE government farm.

"You can see today how happy a falconer is when he finds his bird and buys it," said Salman Albalooshi, a bidder from Bahrain who secured the winning purchase. "Sometimes he doesn't even consider the price, especially if there are rounds and competitions ahead of him and support for the purchase." Mr Albalooshi owns a falcon farm in Dubai and noted that falconry unites the Gulf as a shared heritage.

For bidder Ammar bin Humaid Al Marri, whose Instagram account dedicated to falcons boasts over 150,000 followers, the tradition is an unbridled passion. He stated that he attended the auction to find a prized bird for his collection, supported by government initiatives that keep the Emirati tradition alive.

Fellow enthusiast Mansoor Mohammed mentioned he was willing to spend up to Dh30,000 on a falcon, though he acknowledged that final prices would likely go much higher.

The evening's auction featured seven birds up for grabs. Jaber Battal Al Marar, a member of the selection committee, explained that falcons are evaluated and chosen based on size, weight, and feathers. From an initial pool of 30 to 40 birds, only a select few make it to the auction block. Mr Al Marar is actively teaching his 13-year-old son the art of falconry to ensure the tradition continues for future generations.

Practised for 4,000 years by Bedouin in the UAE and the wider Arabian Peninsula, falconry remains a vital part of the nation's identity and culture. Past auctions have seen even higher figures, such as a Dh600,000 sale in 2023 and a Dh1.01 million purchase of a Pure Gyr American ultra-white falcon a year prior. In addition to in-person events, a secure online platform will launch on the opening day of the exhibition to broaden participation for local and international bidders.