Abu Dhabi, UAE — Following the success of the Falcon Auction in the last edition of Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX) in 2022, the Emirates Falconers’ Club is preparing a special auction this year from 2-8 Sept. 2023.
The previous edition witnessed the purchase of the most expensive falcon in ADIHEX’s history, as the American falcon (Pure Gear – Ultra White) was sold for more than AED1,000,000 (about US$275,000).
Bids will be offered on the elite falcons from local production, the winning falcons in the Most Beautiful Captive-Bred Falcons Contest, on 2nd September, 2023, falcons presented by several participating exhibitors, in addition to the best selections of rare falcons.
The auction includes six different categories for local and international productions, which are: Pure Gyr, produced by international farms outside the UAE; Pure Gyr male, produced by international farms outside the UAE; Pure Saker, produced by international farms outside the UAE; Pure Gyr, produced by local farms inside the UAE; Pure Gyr male, produced by local farms inside the UAE, and Pure Saker, produced by local farms inside the UAE.
The 2023 auction will witness new features, including the falcon daily raffle draws offered by Umm Jeniba Farm to the auction’s audience and raffle draws to the participants, “the Bidders”. The auction will also be broadcast live on ADIHEX social media platforms and websites.
Falcon farm owners must meet some general requirements to participate in the auctions, including the following: the participant should be officially registered at ADIHEX, and the participant must place the approved falcons under the custody of the organising committee before a sufficient period. Moreover, the falcons should have all official documents and health certificates confirming that they are healthy and free of disease, and the participant should pledge to adhere to all regulatory conditions of the auction.
The auction targets the owners of captive-bred falcons, breeding facilities and farms inside the UAE and from different countries around the world, organisers of falcon auctions, falcons’ traders, falconers in the UAE and Arab Gulf Region, VIPs and businessmen interested in the falconry sector, and the UAE community members, residents, and tourists.
The auction aims to enhance the exhibition’s theme, “Sustainability and Heritage…A Reborn Aspiration”, and strengthen the role of the Emirates Falconers’ Club in preserving and developing authentic heritage and sustainable hunting. It also seeks to support and encourage the owners of the falcon farms to sell, buy, and produce the finest falcons bred in captivity.
Furthermore, the auction aims to highlight the leading scientific role of the UAE in the birds’ breeding research, preserving wild birds, and encouraging the production of falcons with high standards in sufficient numbers at reasonable prices for falconers.
The auction also enables all nationalities to acquire high-quality and top-performing falcons and encourages entrepreneurs to invest in captive-bred falcons. Moreover, it aims to provide falconers with the best captive-bred falcons, as the auction date and ADIHEX coincides with the start of the falconry season and the falcon hunting championships season.
Hadi Al Mansoori, Founder of Al Thumama Bird Auctions Company in Abu Dhabi about 12 years ago, said that through importing and breeding falcons by crossbreeding them with local breeds, he now owns various breeds of all types of falcons currently in demand, such as Pure Saker, Pure Gyr, Pure Gyr male, Peregrine, Gyr Peregrine, Gyr Peregrine male, Gyr Saker male.
Organized by the Emirates Falconers’ Club, the 20th edition of ADIHEX will be held under the theme “Sustainability and Heritage… A Reborn Aspiration”, with the official sponsorship of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, the International Fund for Houbara Conservation (IFHC), and the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) where the event takes place.
The auction, which will be held during ADIHEX 2023, coincides with the rising of the Suhail star, heralding the end of summer and the start of preparations for the new falconry season 2023-2024, as well as for falconry tournaments and competitions.