Falconry in Dubai

In this Nov. 15, 2012, photo, a falcon with a bloody beak screeches after receiving a piece of meat as a reward during a training session in the outskirts of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. While the methods to develop top-quality hunting falcons date back to antiquity, its transition into a modern Middle Eastern passion has brought in microchip tagging and price tags that can run well over $10,000 for a prime bird.

In this Nov. 13, 2012, photo, Iraqi professional falcon trainer Abu Badr al-Anazi prepares a falcon for a training session on the outskirts of Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

In this Nov. 13, 2012, photo, a falcon receives a piece of meat as a reward during a training session on the outskirts of Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

In this Nov. 14, 2012, photo, an Emirati falconer releases a falcon to chase a pigeon body pulled by a remote control model plane during a training session on the outskirts of Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

In this Oct. 18, 2012, photo, a falcon receives a pill at a Falcon hospital in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Dubai Falcon Hospital was established by Sheik Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum, the brother of the ruler of Dubai, in 1983 and and provides care to hunting and breading falcons of royal families in Gulf States and emergency treatments for all the falcons in the UAE.

In this Nov. 14, 2012, photo, a falcon closes in on prey dangled from a remote control model plane during a training session in the outskirts of Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

In this Nov. 14, 2012, photo, Iraqi professional falcon trainer Abu Badr al-Anazi, 2nd left, holds a falcon on his arm during a light breakfast before starting a training session in outskirt desert of Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

In this Nov. 14, 2012, photo, an Emirati man passes in front of a wall painting showing the traditional falcon hunting images at the Falcon Center in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Visitors and tourists to Dubai have shown great enthusiasm to the National Falcon Centre at Nad Al Sheba, which offers sale of falcons and all accessories related to falconry.

In this Oct. 18, 2012, photo, Sarah Gough, a veterinary nurse, right, prepares to wrap a falcon in a towel during a medical procedure at a Falcon hospital in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Dubai Falcon Hospital was established by Sheik Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum, the brother of the ruler of Dubai, in 1983 and and provides care to hunting and breading falcons of royal families in Gulf States and emergency treatments for all the falcons in the UAE.