The King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival 2025 kicked off today, Thursday, at its headquarters in the Malham area, north of Riyadh. Organized by the Saudi Falcons Club, the festival will run from December 25th to January 10th, 2026, and is witnessing a remarkable turnout and wide participation from leading local and international falconers, reflecting the Kingdom's prestigious position in this field.
Consolidating global leadership and cultural heritage
The organization of this festival comes within the framework of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's tireless efforts to preserve its cultural and heritage legacy, as falconry is an integral part of the rich Arab and Saudi identity. The festival has gained increasing international importance, particularly after its success in entering the Guinness World Records three times as the largest falconry festival in the world in terms of the number of participating birds. This event reinforces the Kingdom's leading role in protecting intangible heritage, especially since falconry has been inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2010, making the festival a global platform for the exchange of cultural and civilizational experiences.
Million-dollar prizes and fierce competition
The first day witnessed a strong start with six qualifying rounds dedicated to elite local falconers, encompassing diverse categories such as "Gyrfalcon Pure (young and adult)" and "Peregrine Falcon (young and adult)." The festival is set to feature exciting competition across 139 rounds, with the organizing committee allocating substantial prizes totaling over 38 million Saudi Riyals, distributed among 1,012 awards. The main competitions include the "Al-Malwah" (400-meter lure) race, which attracts owners, amateurs, and professionals, and the "Al-Mazayin" competition, which relies on precise aesthetic criteria and draws participants from around the world.
Broad international participation and strategic dimensions
This year's festival boasts a distinctly international character, bringing together competitors from nine different countries. In addition to falconers from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the current edition features participants from Italy, Ireland, and Syria, underscoring the festival's global appeal. In a strategic move aimed at ensuring the sustainability of this sport and its transmission to future generations, Waleed Al-Tawil, the official spokesperson for the Saudi Falcons Club, explained that the festival has dedicated races for children and women, as well as a "schools' race"—a unique initiative designed to promote community engagement and instill a love of heritage in young people.
A complete visitor experience
The festival's activities extend beyond competitions, offering a comprehensive tourism and cultural experience for visitors daily from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. These activities include exhibitions of falconry equipment, pavilions for local artisans and producers, and the "Future Falconer" pavilion, which provides interactive educational programs for children. New specialized categories have also been introduced, such as the "Nova" category and those dedicated to Mongolian falcons, adding variety and excitement to this global event and solidifying the Kingdom's position as a premier destination for falconers worldwide.
