The highly anticipated "Al Mazayen" competition, part of the 2025 King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival, kicks off today, Monday, at the official headquarters of the Saudi Falcons Club in Malham (north of Riyadh). This event is a key component of the festival, the largest of its kind in the world, bringing together elite falconers from within Saudi Arabia and abroad.
The falcon beauty contest, which focuses on the aesthetics and standard characteristics of falcons, will run for four consecutive days, from January 5th to 8th. The first day's events will feature two main rounds: one for the "Shaheen Fakh" category and the other for the "Hurr Qarnas" category, amidst great anticipation from those interested in this rich heritage.
Competition schedule and round details
The excitement continues on the second day (Tuesday) with three diverse races: the "Local Bred Gyrfalcon Chick" race, the "Mongolian Gyrfalcon Chick/Adult Gyrfalcon" race, and the "Mongolian Gyrfalcon Chick/Adult Gyrfalcon" race. On the third day of the competition, the challenges continue with the "Gyrfalcon from Gyrfalcon Adult" race for local breeders, and the "Black/Dark Gyrfalcon" race. The competition concludes on January 8th with two decisive races: the "Pure Gyrfalcon Chick" and the "Pure Gyrfalcon Adult" races for local breeders.
A global festival that promotes cultural heritage
The King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival is not merely a sporting event; it is a massive cultural and heritage celebration aimed at preserving the tradition of falconry in the Arabian Peninsula. In its previous editions, the festival has successfully entered the Guinness World Records as the largest gathering of falcons in the world, reflecting the great importance the wise leadership places on this human heritage, which has been inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Million-dollar prizes and support for the non-oil economy
It is worth noting that the current edition of the festival in 2025 includes two competitions: "Al-Malwah" (speed) and "Al-Mazayin" (beauty), with the Saudi Falcons Club allocating substantial cash prizes exceeding a total value of 38 million Saudi Riyals. These significant prizes contribute to motivating both professional and amateur falconers, and to boosting investment in the falconry sector, thus benefiting the national economy and stimulating heritage tourism, in line with the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which seeks to strengthen national identity and pride in Saudi Arabia's rich history.
