In a traditional atmosphere brimming with the spirit of competition, the headquarters of the Saudi Falcons Club in the Malham area, north of the capital Riyadh, witnessed the crowning of 12 falconers from the elite of local falconers with the King Abdulaziz Cups, as part of the Al-Malwah competition in the current edition of the King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival 2025. This global event continues until next Saturday, amidst a large audience and wide international participation that reflects the prestigious position that the festival has reached.
Details of the coronation, Al-Mallah's dominance, and Expo
The elite local falconry rounds witnessed fierce competition with 120 falcons participating. These falcons had qualified from the preliminary rounds to compete in the cup rounds, with 10 falcons in each round. The results yielded an exciting distribution of prizes, with falconer Amin Al-Mallah achieving a remarkable feat by winning five cups across various categories, including "Gyr Pure Young" and "Adult" with his falcons "Al-Malika" and "Al-Qahira," as well as the "Gyr Pure Adult," "Gyr Shaheen Adult," and "Gyr Peregrine Adult" categories.
In contrast, Team Expo proved its strength by also winning 5 trophies, dominating the categories of Pure Gyrfalcon (young) with the falcon (Jalmoud), Peregrine Falcon (young and adult), Gyrfalcon-Peregrine hybrid (young), and Gyrfalcon-Peregrine hybrid (young). Also among the winners were Hamid Barghash Al Mansouri, who captured the trophy in the Gyrfalcon (young) category with the falcon (Oqab), and Sultan Al Mutairi, who won the trophy in the Gyrfalcon (adult) category with the falcon (Sadawi).
Historical legacy and global standing
The King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival is more than just a sporting competition; it is a cultural event that embodies the depth of Saudi identity and its close connection to falconry, an integral part of the Kingdom's intangible heritage. Through organizing this annual festival, the Saudi Falcons Club aims to preserve this rich legacy and pass it on to future generations, in line with the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which places great importance on promoting national culture.
The festival has succeeded in establishing its position on the world map, having entered the Guinness Book of World Records three times as the largest falconry festival in the world in terms of the number of participating falcons, reflecting the scale of the professional organization and the great support that the falconry sector enjoys in the Kingdom.
Economic dimensions and ongoing competition
Beyond its cultural significance, the festival plays a vital role in stimulating economic and tourism activity, attracting falconers and enthusiasts from across the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and beyond, including Spain, Italy, and Ireland. The excitement continues today, Wednesday, with the start of the local professional rounds, where falconers will compete for 12 new trophies in the Gyr, Peregrine, and Saker categories, promising even greater competition and record-breaking performances in the remaining days of the festival.
