Sakers are built for open spaces. They are fast and powerful in level flight - not just diving - which means they can chase prey across long stretches of desert. A saker's wingspan can be over a metre wide.
Their eyes are extraordinary. A falcon can see about eight times more clearly than a human. From hundreds of metres up in the sky, a saker can spot a small bird hiding in dry grass. Its eyes also have a built-in pair of 'sunglasses' - a third eyelid that flicks across to shade the eye in bright sun.
The dark stripes below each eye are not just for looking impressive. Scientists think they work like the black stripes baseball players paint under their eyes - they absorb glare from the sun, so the falcon's vision stays sharp when it is hunting in bright daylight.
Falcons used in UAE falconry are looked after extremely well. They have special diets, regular check-ups, and many trainers consider their falcon a real friend. After the hunting season, many falcons are released back into the wild to live freely.