UAE slams door on illegal falcon trade with sweeping legal overhaul

The United Arab Emirates has strengthened its wildlife protection laws to meet international standards following investigative reports into illegal falcon trading.

In January 2026, the UAE enacted new wildlife and agriculture legislation that positions it among the strictest regulatory regimes in the Middle East. The updated laws align the country’s protections with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), according to Arab media outlets.

Penalties for illegal wildlife trafficking have risen sharply — from just over $8,000 to more than $500,000 — and offenders could face prison sentences of up to four years.

The reforms come after investigative reporting highlighted alleged large-scale illegal falcon trading between the United Kingdom and the UAE. On 5 January 2026, The Guardian and Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism published a joint investigation documenting 126 reported nest raids between 2014 and 2023, reportedly linked to the peregrine falcon trade.

Falconry has deep historical roots in the Middle East, tracing back to Bedouin traditions in which nomadic desert communities relied on falcons for hunting. Today, it has evolved into a multimillion-dollar global industry. High-value birds can fetch between $4,000 and $250,000 at auction, and a 2024 falcon racing competition in Saudi Arabia offered a prize pool of $9.6 million.

The recent investigation included interviews conducted at Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition. According to the report, demand for wild-caught falcons stems from a perception that they maintain purer bloodlines compared to farm-bred birds, which may have mixed ancestry. Interviewees also indicated a particular demand for British falcons, citing their reputed speed and lineage purity.

The UK’s National Wildlife Crime Unit has reported a rise in falcon breeding facilities allegedly linked to Middle Eastern buyers. Data from CITES shows that in 2023, 88% of UK peregrine falcons were exported to the UAE. British police acknowledged in the investigation that limited resources prevent them from thoroughly examining every breeding facility; however, 15 wild birds were reportedly found during 27 inspections. Conservationists have warned that continued illegal trade could threaten peregrine falcon populations, despite the species being protected under UK law.

However, several experts — including well-known UAE falcon trainers, the CEO of the International Association for Falconry and Conservation of Birds of Prey, and the director of International Wildlife Consultants — have challenged the findings. They argue that illegal falcon trading within the UAE is either minimal or nonexistent.

By Nazrin Sadigova