Second rare ultra-white gyrfalcon sells for Dh1.1 million at Abu Dhabi exhibitionq
US-bred chick weighs 1.46kg and boasts a 47cm wingspan
ABU DHABI – A rare ultra-white gyrfalcon chick has sold for Dh1.1 million ($300,000) at the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX) 2026.
The sale marks the second time in this year's event that a falcon has crossed the Dh1 million mark. It comes just a day after another pure-white gyrfalcon fetched Dh1.5 million ($408,440) at the exhibition's auction.
Both birds were bred in the United States by the Mark Moglich farm, which specialises in high-end raptors, including snow-white Arctic gyrfalcons, peregrine falcons, gyr-peregrine hybrids and Russian Siberian goshawks.
Record sales
The falcon sold on Sunday weighs 1.46kg, measures 47cm in length and has a 47cm wingspan, according to ADIHEX.
The previous day's auction featured an "Ultra White Pure Gyr Garmousha" falcon chick, which sold for Dh1.5 million, making it the most expensive falcon sold in the current edition's auctions. The bird weighed 1,000 grams and measured 16.5 inches in length and 16.5 inches in width.
The latest sales highlight the strong demand for rare and high-quality birds at the annual exhibition, which brings together falcon breeders and enthusiasts from across the region and beyond.
Rare raptors
Gyrfalcons are highly sought after for their hunting abilities and rarity, with the finest birds commanding substantial prices at auctions and private sales. Their physical qualities, including speed, precision and size, make them prized hunting birds, while falconry gives them significant cultural value across the Middle East.
The most sought-after birds also compete in regional hunting contests, where substantial prize money can further increase their value and market demand.
Breeding elite raptors requires years of specialised experience and expertise, with specialist farms in the US and Europe providing intensive care for the birds.
ADIHEX 2026 features 55 leading local and international falcon breeding farms. The event has also seen record prices in previous years, with the most expensive pure mottled gyrfalcon reaching $467,000 at the International Falcon Breeders Auction in Riyadh in 2021.