Falconry News, an age-old alliance between humans and their winged hunters, is experiencing a remarkable resurgence in the 21st century, bridging tradition and innovation, heritage and modern sport.
From the sweeping deserts of the Arabian Peninsula to global competitive arenas, 2025 and 2026 have delivered a flurry of developments that showcase falconry’s cultural heritage, its ecological importance, and its evolution as both sport and conservation practice.
A Cultural Heritage Regulated for the Future
In the United Arab Emirates, Falconry News remains deeply woven into the social and cultural fabric of daily life. The Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi (EAD) has taken proactive steps to not only protect this traditional sport but also to integrate it into modern regulatory frameworks.
For the 2025–2026 season, the EAD extended the traditional wild hunting (falconry) season to run from 20 October 2025 through 5 February 2026, ensuring a longer, well-regulated period for licensed falconers to pursue traditional falconry activities under environmental and safety guidelines.
Only falconers with official licences and registered birds are permitted to participate, and strict measures ensure that hunting does not disturb protected zones or sensitive environments.
This regulatory alignment preserves not only the sport but also the ecological balance of the regions where it has been practiced for centuries. It ensures that a practice rooted in nomadic traditions continues respectfully within modern ecosystems, and that future generations can learn, experience, and pass on these skills.
Falconry Goes Global: New Events and Championships
Falconry’s footprint is expanding far beyond its historical desert roots. In a major step toward globalizing the sport, the UAE Falcons Federation unveiled the Emirates Falcons International Cup, designed to be a worldwide annual championship traversing continents beginning from the 2025–2026 season. The aim? To carry the UAE’s falconry heritage to new cultural arenas, strengthen international participation, and position falconry alongside established global sporting traditions.
The inaugural staging of this cup in Kuwait last December proved exhilarating. More than 200 experienced falconers and 270 birds took part across competitive categories, drawing international audiences and media attention alike—an early indicator that this new international tradition may soon become a highlight on the global falconry calendar.
Major Shows, Auctions, and Festivals: A Falconry Hub in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia continues to assert itself as a global Falconry News hub. The Kingdom’s International Saudi Falcons and Hunting Exhibition 2025 brought more than 1,300 exhibitors from over 45 countries to Riyadh. This massive fair acted as both a cultural gathering and a marketplace, offering equipment, gear, educational exhibits, and live demonstrations that drew enthusiasts from around the world.
One of the standout highlights of the falconry calendar was the International Falcon Breeders Auction, where elite birds fetched significant sums. In this event alone, sales reportedly exceeded $3.46 million, and more than 1,100 falcons were sold to buyers from 23 countries. Among these, the most expensive falcon—a Gyr Pure Super White—sold for approximately $320,000, reflecting the deep international interest in high-performance and well-bred birds.
Additionally, a special focus on Mongolian falcons introduced during the Saudi exhibition highlighted the demand for diverse elite breeds, with some birds selling for SAR900,000 (~$240,000).
Soon after the success of its 2025 events, the Saudi Falcons Club released a comprehensive calendar for 2026 that includes the International Falcon Breeders Auction, the Saudi Falcons and Hunting Exhibition, and several other competitions planned throughout the year—continuing the Kingdom’s momentum in hosting world-class falconry events.
Youth Engagement and Cultural Transmission
Across the Gulf, falconry festivals are also focusing on youth engagement and cultural transmission. In Qatar, the annual Marmi International Falcons and Hunting Festival continues to emphasize educational activities and competitions aimed at younger generations. This initiative nurtures early connection with cultural heritage, ensuring that falconry remains vibrant and relevant in the lives of young Arabs and global visitors alike.
Through these programs and community initiatives, falconry is not just preserved as a sport, but celebrated as a living cultural legacy—one that bridges the wisdom of ancestors with the aspirations of future generations.
Conservation: From Captivity to the Wild
While competition and culture capture the headlines, conservation remains a critical dimension of modern falconry. A standout example is the Sheikh Zayed Falcon Release Programme, which has operated for nearly three decades. This initiative works to bolster wild populations of endangered species, particularly the Peregrine and Saker falcons—both historically prized in falconry but vulnerable to habitat loss and human impact.
In 2025 alone, 81 falcons were released into the wild in Kazakhstan as part of this programme, bringing the total number of birds returned to their natural environment to more than 2,355.
These conservation efforts go hand-in-hand with heritage preservation. They demonstrate that falconry, when responsibly practised, can play a role in protecting biodiversity, strengthening migratory populations, and supporting scientific understanding of these apex aerial predators.
Innovation on the Horizon
The partnership between tradition and technology is also emerging within the Falconry News sphere. Although still early in adoption, academic research into AI-assisted falcon health diagnostics hints at a future where technology enhances how falconers care for their birds. For example, machine learning models designed to detect diseases in falcons illustrate how advanced tools may support avian healthcare and improve welfare standards for birds in both wild and captive contexts.
As the sport evolves, similar innovations may extend into tracking, telemetry, and performance analytics—potentially transforming how falconry is taught and practised around the world.
Challenges and the Road Ahead
Despite the positive momentum, falconry—like all traditions rooted in wildlife—faces ongoing challenges. Regulatory balance, ethical breeding practices, and ecological protection remain central topics among conservationists and enthusiasts alike. Discussions continue internationally on how to harmonize trade rules, protect wild populations, and manage the sport’s growth responsibly.
Yet, the convergence of cultural respect, community engagement, and scientific stewardship suggests a vibrant future. From desert sands to global skies, falconers today are redefining what it means to honour an ancient legacy in a modern world.
Conclusion
In 2025–2026, falconry has truly soared—bridging past and present, culture and commerce, sport and science. With expanded seasons in the UAE, international championships, thriving auctions and exhibitions in Riyadh, and bold conservation programmes across continents.
The world of falconry continues to evolve. As the tradition embraces innovation and global dialogue, these magnificent birds remain a symbol not only of human skill and partnership with nature but also of shared cultural heritage that transcends borders.
