A Falcon Valued at Dh50,000 Can Potentially Fetch Dh100,000 When It Has the Right Qualities.
Breeders and falconers gathered in Abu Dhabi for the second of eight ADIHEX falcon auctions, where buyers spent hundreds of thousands of dirhams on prized birds.
But what determines the value of a falcon?
Training Falcons
For Mohammed Al Kaabi, a falcon’s value is not determined solely by the figure on its auction tag. Sometimes, its true worth lies in the patience and dedication required to train it.
The Emirati falconer, who has practised falconry since Year 6, said the bond between a falcon and its handler develops gradually, sometimes through hours of simply sitting together.
“When you first get it, the bird does not know you,” he said. “You have to break that barrier of fear.”
Al Kaabi recalled spending four or five hours a day with a new bird, keeping it on his hand and even leaving the television on so it could become accustomed to unfamiliar sounds and people.
“You have to make it understand: ‘I am not going to hurt you, I am going to be with you,’” he said.
Building that trust requires patience, as even a small mistake can affect a bird’s behaviour and, ultimately, its value.
A falcon that reacts poorly can lose significant value, Al Kaabi said. One that might normally be worth Dh50,000 could potentially command Dh100,000 if it possesses desirable qualities such as being calm and well behaved.
For Al Kaabi, however, the appeal goes beyond the price tag.
“It teaches you patience,” he said.
A newly acquired bird can require hours of attention before it becomes comfortable, forcing even an impatient person to slow down and remain calm.
“If you are an impulsive person, the bird makes you calm down,” he said.
Falcons for Breeding
For Mohammed Nabil, a member of the KH Falcons team, the falcon auction is part of a wider operation focused on breeding, racing and beauty competitions.
The team runs breeding operations in the UAE and Britain, with its falcons competing in races and beauty contests. Established in 2023, the operation has already produced birds that have attracted six-figure bids.
One of its falcons sold for Dh250,000 at the auction. Nabil said the four- to five-month-old bird is expected to compete when the UAE falconry season begins towards the end of November. The team also produced a falcon that fetched Dh350,000 last year.
For some buyers, the value of a falcon extends beyond its performance as an individual bird. Its breeding potential can be equally important.
Nabil said one bidder from Qatar was particularly interested in a female falcon because he had purchased a male from the same bloodline the previous year. His aim was to pair the two birds and eventually produce high-quality offspring.
The buyer ultimately stopped bidding at Dh210,000 and lost the auction. He later told Nabil that he had “lost the breeding project”.
For KH Falcons, breeding is increasingly a science of careful selection. Nabil said the team evaluates factors including bloodlines, size, colour and performance, with particular interest in rare, larger-sized birds.
One of the team’s falcons measured around 17.5 inches, making it unusually large for its type. Nabil attributed its size to older bloodlines and careful selection of its parent birds.
Ultimately, however, size and pedigree are not enough — the bird still has to perform.
Falcons Valued by Performance
Al Kaabi said some falconers purchase birds for around Dh25,000 and can later sell them for significantly more if they perform exceptionally well in competitions.
“For people who want the bird for hunting, they want a ready bird,” he said.
A falcon with a proven hunting record can command a higher price because its abilities have already been demonstrated. Al Kaabi said successful hunts are often documented on video, giving potential buyers evidence of the bird’s performance.
