A recent auction in Abu Dhabi saw two high-priced falcons sell for 1.1 million dirhams ($300,000) and 1.5 million dirhams, with the top-selling bird being a pure-white gyr. The Gulf region's demand for falcons is on the rise ahead of the hunting season opening in October, which sees nationals from the area pay $100,000 to hunt houbara bustards in Pakistan. The prices paid for these birds are significant, with one chick already selling for $346,000 in Riyadh last month. Specialist farms breed the falcons, which have become a valuable commodity in the region's hunting culture.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-05,
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same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In Abu Dhabi, two falcons sold for record-breaking prices: a pure-white gyrfalcon fetched 1.5 million dirhams ($300,000) and an ultra-white gyrfalcon chick sold for $300,000. These high-end birds were bred on American farms and are highly prized for their racing abilities in the Gulf region's lucrative hunting circuit. The prices reflect a growing demand ahead of the upcoming hunting season in October, which targets the houbara bustard, a bird said to have aphrodisiac qualities valued by Gulf nationals at $100,000 each. This luxury market has also been fueled by specialist farms that cater to wealthy hunters, who often transport their birds on commercial flights to participate in high-stakes racing events worth tens of millions of riyals.
Written for “Abu Dhabi Falcon Sales Surge” on 2026-09-05,
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No political leaning scored for article 4272 · logged 2026-09-05
The Gulf is on a multi-million dollar falcon shopping spree, with two prized birds trading for eye-watering prices in Abu Dhabi this week.
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birds → prize → Dhabi
Bred on the same American farm, an ultra-white gyrfalcon chick went for 1.1 million dirhams ($300,000) while a pure-white gyr fetched 1.5 million dirhams.
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gyr → breed → dirhams
In Riyadh, the breeders’ auction closed last month with a 1.3 million riyal ($346,000) Canadian-bred chick.
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auction → close → chick
Bedouins once flew the region’s birds of prey to put meat on the table.
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Bedouins → fly → table
Today they come from specialist farms, get their own seats on commercial flights, and can win back their price on a racing circuit worth tens of millions of riyals.
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they → come → riyals
Spending picks up ahead of the hunting season that opens in October.
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that → pick → October
Its prize quarry, the houbara bustard that Gulf nationals pay $100,000 to hunt in Pakistan’s deserts, is valued for its supposed aphrodisiac qualities.
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nationals → pay → qualities
