The second of eight ADIHEX auctions took place in Abu Dhabi, where breeders and falconers gathered, with buyers spending hundreds of thousands of dirhams on valuable birds.
However, the value of a falcon goes beyond the number on the auction tag. For Mohammed Al Kaabi, the bird's worth is measured not only by the tag but also by the patience it teaches.
This Emirati falconer, who has been involved in falconry since sixth grade, noted that the bond between the falcon and the hunter forms slowly, sometimes requiring hours of sitting together. He emphasized that initially, the bird is afraid of humans, and this barrier of fear must be overcome.
Al Kaabi recalled spending four to five hours a day with a new bird, holding it on his hand and even turning on the television so it would get used to sounds and people. He explained that he needed to convey to the bird the message: 'I will not harm you, I will be near you.' Even the slightest mistake can affect the bird.
A negative reaction from the bird can lower its value. According to Al Kaabi, a falcon that could cost 50,000 dirhams could potentially reach 100,000 dirhams if it possesses desirable qualities such as calmness and good behavior.
Nevertheless, for the falconer, the main attraction is not the price. 'It teaches patience,' he stated. A newly acquired falcon may require many hours of attention before calming down, forcing an impatient person to slow down. He added that the bird helps calm impulsive personalities.
For Mohammed Nabil, a member of the KH Falcons team, the auction is part of a larger business based on breeding, racing, and beauty contests. The team conducts breeding activities in the UAE and the UK, and its falcons participate in competitions and beauty contests. This structure, established in 2023, has already produced birds that attracted six-figure bids. One of the team's falcons was sold at auction for 250,000 dirhams. Nabil reported that a four- or five-month-old falcon is planned to be sent to competitions when the season begins in the UAE at the end of November. Last year, the team also released a falcon that was sold for 350,000 dirhams.
Some buyers look beyond the individual bird, assessing its potential for reproduction. Nabil mentioned that one buyer from Qatar was particularly interested in the female displayed at the auction because he had purchased a male from the same line the previous year. His goal was to obtain a pair from the same lineage to produce high-quality offspring. In the end, the buyer settled on 210,000 dirhams but lost the auction, later informing Nabil that he had 'lost a breeding project.'
As for KH Falcons, breeding is becoming an increasingly scientific selection process. Nabil clarified that the team analyzes pedigrees, size, coloration, and performance, including rare large individuals. One of the falcons brought by the team was about 17.5 inches in size, which is unusually large for its type. Nabil linked its size to old pedigrees and careful attention to parent birds, but ultimately, the bird must deliver results.
Al Kaabi noted that some falconers acquire birds for around 25,000 dirhams, and if they subsequently show exceptional results in competitions, their price can increase significantly. He added that people looking for hunting birds seek a ready bird; a falcon that has already hunted successfully comes with proof of its performance, often documented through video material.