Riyadh, Dec. 25 (BNA): The King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival 2025, the world’s largest falconry gathering, launched at the Saudi Falcons Club headquarters in Malham, north of Riyadh. The festival runs from December 25 to January 10, 2026, with wide participation from falconers from nine countries.

The opening included six qualifying rounds for elite Saudi falconers, for the Pure Gyr (juvenile and mature), Gyr Hybrid (juvenile and mature), and Saker (juvenile and mature) categories. The festival will feature a total of 139 rounds, offering 1,012 prizes with a total value exceeding SAR 38 million, across two main competitions: Al Melwah, the 400-metre lure race, and Al Mazayen.

Al Melwah includes categories for owners, amateurs, professionals, and elite falconers, with dedicated rounds for Saudi and international participants. Al Mazayen focuses on falcon aesthetics according to precise criteria and attracts falconers from different countries.

Falconers from the Gulf Cooperation Council states are participating, alongside competitors from Italy, Ireland, and Syria. The festival continues to enhance its global presence after receiving three Guinness World Records as the world’s largest falconry festival in terms of participating falcons.

Saudi Falcons Club spokesperson Waleed Al Taweel said the festival this year places great emphasis on passing the hobby to future generations, with rounds for children and women, as well as a schools category aimed at expanding participation and transferring the hobby to the new generation in an organised manner, while encouraging community involvement and interest in the tradition.

He added that the festival includes new specialised rounds, including the Nova Falcon round and one dedicated to Mongolian falcons. The festival is open to visitors daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and alongside the main competitions, it offers a variety of experiences, including falconry equipment exhibitions, productive family showcases, sponsor pavilions, and the "Future Falconer" zone, which provides educational and interactive programmes for children, as well as outdoor activities reflecting the heritage and aesthetics of falconry.

The King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival highlights its role in promoting the falconry heritage, which has been listed by UNESCO on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2010, and reinforces Saudi Arabia’s position as a global hub for falcons and falconers, offering a 17-day experience for visitors, falconers, and enthusiasts.

A.S, S.E