Bahraini falconer Salman Albalooshi walked away from Sunday's auction at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre with the weekend's prized falcon on his arm - a Pure Gyr falcon - after placing a winning bid of Dh255,000.
The bird, which weighed over 2kg, was locally bred in the UAE and was one of dozens of falcons auctioned ahead of this year's Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition, which begins on August 28.
Falcon merchants and breeders bid huge sums throughout the auction on Sunday evening, with birds of prey bought for thousands of dirhams.
"You can see today how happy a falconer is when he finds his bird and buys it," said Mr Albalooshi. "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, who has a falcon farm in Dubai, said that falconry unites the Gulf. "This is our heritage, a Gulf heritage that no two people, rulers and people alike, would dispute. And we always preserve this heritage, we love it and support it."
For bidder Ammar bin Humaid Al Marri, falcons are an unbridled passion. His Instagram account focusing on falcons has more than 150,000 followers. He told The National before the auction started that he was looking to find a prized bird to add to his collection.
When asked how many falcons he owns, he laughed before saying: "I prefer not to say". His upkeep of this Emirati tradition is supported by government initiatives, which keep the tradition alive.
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A highly prized Gyr Shahin, a hybrid falcon bred from a Gyrfalcon and a Peregrine, during the Adihex falcon auction in Abu Dhabi. All photos: Pawan Singh for The National -
Falcon enthusiasts gather to bid on prized birds -
Merchants and breeders bid huge sums throughout the auction -
A young falconer puts in a bid -
The most expensive falcon, the Gyr Pure 3219, was sold for Dh255,000. This year's auction featured a live online bidding platform -
Salman Hasan Albalooshi and his son Hasan Salman Hasan Albalooshi put in the highest bid of Dh255,000 for the Gyr Pure 3219 -
A falcon on display before the auction -
Falcons are chosen based on criteria such as size, colour, and feathers
"I will participate and bid, and if we find the right one, God willing, we will take it," he said. "The exhibition, of course, includes the elite of falcons."
Fellow enthusiast Mansoor Mohammed said he was willing to spend up to Dh30,000 on a falcon on Sunday, but admitted they will likely fetch much higher prices.
Taking flight
There were seven birds up for grabs at Sunday night's auction. Jaber Battal Al Marar is a member of the committee which selects the falcons that are worthy of inclusion.
Falcons are selected by their size, weight and their feathers. There are typically between 30 to 40 falcons put forward, which are then whittled down to the select few who make the auction.
Mr Al Marrar is teaching his 13-year-old son all about falconry to keep the tradition alive. "This heritage is very important for all, not for only for me. You will see that next year a new generation will be coming to this auction," he said.
A long tradition
For 4,000 years, Bedouin in the UAE and the wider Arabian Peninsula have practised falconry as a form of hunting. It remains a popular sport and pastime and is a vital feature of the UAE’s identity.
In 2023, a prized falcon fetched Dh600,000 at an auction held during the exhibition. A year earlier, a bidder spent Dh1.01 million for a Pure Gyr American ultra-white falcon.
In addition to in-person falcon auctions, a secure online platform has been launched for the exhibition. The move aims to boost participation from local and international bidders.
The exhibition is to feature events displaying falconry, hunting, equestrian sports and fishing, as well as promoting environmental preservation and the UAE's culture.
