Today's Edition
MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)
Rare falcons with snow-white feathers and world-class bloodlines are on display at ADIHEX 2025, some valued at millions of dirhams, captivating visitors with their beauty and rarity.
A pure ultra-white male falcon, with an estimated worth of Dh5 million, takes centre stage at KH Falcon’s exhibit.
“The value of a falcon depends on its age, size, weight, and bloodline,” Hamdan Al Qaydi of KH Falcon told Aletihad, noting that older birds approaching breeding maturity are particularly prized.
This year, KH Falcon imported a pair of “super white” falcons from its American farm. The pair produces ultra-white offspring, coveted in the falconry community.
Some of these birds have made headlines in the past weeks. One super-white falcon sold at the ADIHEX auction for Dh350,000, while its sibling fetched Dh1.2 million at a similar event in Saudi Arabia, each setting a global record in its category.
Falconry in the UAE is a centuries-old tradition, a living link to the desert heritage of the region.
With their sharp eyesight and swift flight, falcons were ideal companions for Bedouins hunting large migratory birds like houbara bustards, once vital for sustenance.
Over time, the practice evolved from a means of survival into a cherished sport and cultural practice, passed down through generations.
Al Qaydi entered the world of falconry at 16, learning the craft through hands-on practice with friends.
“Falconry is a vast field; every year, you discover something new,” he said. “It’s a hobby deeply rooted in tradition, cherished by our leaders, and we follow their practices closely.”
The UAE has played a leading role in the global effort to recognise and protect falconry, helping secure its place on UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This multinational initiative, launched in 2010, had expanded to 24 countries by 2022.
The country is also home to the world’s first dedicated falcon hospital, the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital, which receives around 6,000 birds annually in its 200 air-conditioned treatment rooms.
Al Qaydi pointed out that modern technology has transformed falconry training in recent years. Drones now carry pigeons for falcons to chase, and sensors measure speed down to fractions of a second during racing competitions.
Essence of Falconry
Modern tools and techniques may have been adopted as part of this heritage sport, but for Emirati falconers, the essence of falconry - the intimate relationship between human and bird, the thrill of the hunt, and the respect for tradition - remains unchanged.
Khaled Al Kaabi, founder of KH Falcon, held his first falcon at six years old.
Falconry involves a deeply personal bond between falcon and falconer. “Every falconer experiences heartbreak when his bird dies; it’s like losing a child,” he told Aletihad.
Falconry is also defined by its universal language, understood by falconers worldwide, Al Kaabi added.
This language is not spoken but understood through an age-old rhythm of care, feeding, and training that has existed for thousands of years.
For example, there’s a practice called “talwah” in falconry, whereby a feather is tied to a string and moved in the air or in front of the falcon.
The bird mistakes it for real prey, chases it, and hones its hunting and manoeuvring skills before being released on actual prey, Al Kaabi explained.
“Any falconer, in any part of the world, will understand what this movement means and what it’s for.”
Today, this Emirati falconer leads a foundation dedicated to the production, care and training of prized falcons with five breeding farms across the US and the UK.
Al Kaabi noted that imported falcons are carefully acclimated before being exposed to local conditions in the UAE.
During the hot summer months, birds are kept in climate-controlled rooms to protect them from extreme heat, and they are gradually reintroduced to the outdoors in October as weather conditions become milder, he explained.
Hunting Season
The 2024–2025 falconry hunting season ran from October 20 to January 20, with dates announced annually by the Environment Agency–Abu Dhabi (EAD).
During the season, only licensed falconers are permitted to hunt captive-bred houbara bustards in designated areas.
To qualify for a licence, applicants must be Emirati citizens aged 18 or older, and their birds must be registered in the Falcon Registration System of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE).
Applications are submitted digitally through the government’s ‘TAMM’ platform, and licenses are valid for one season only, requiring adherence to strict environmental regulations, including hunting only during daylight hours and within the specified dates.
