If you don't establish a bond with your bird, it will not succeed, says falconer

Rashid AI Ketbi was one of 30 winners at AI Dhafra Festival's falconry competition this week

- Haneen Dajani

Rashid Al Ketbi received his first falcon from his father when he was 10 and has been inseparable from birds of prey ever since.

“I took the falcon with me everywhere, even when I went to sleep,” said the 45-year-old Emirati.

The bird, a gift from his father who practised hunting falconry, belonged to the Waqri breed that are specifically used for hunting due to their speed and sharp hunting instincts. Proving to be a challenge to maintain like any other raptor, Al Ketbi said he learned patience and persistence from his new pet, driving him to adopt a lifetime of falconry.

While growing up in Dubai, Al Ketbi trained with his wild birds near his house at dawn before going to school, and in the afternoon after he returned.

“My father made it clear that my studies were top priority, and that he would allow me to continue my hobby as long as I did well in school; he promised me more birds and better breeds if I got good grades.”

During his school years, Al Ketbi developed the passion to compete in falconry through local community contests; “they were held at a small scale, and the prey was either a duck or a donkey; whoever managed to hunt a duck received a cash prize of 25,000 dirhams”.

After finishing high school, young Al Ketbi was confident that he wanted to pursue falconry as a career and refrained from entering university, dedicating his life to the sport.

“Falconry is in my blood, it is my heritage and the heritage of my grandparents,” he explained.