King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival 2025 Opens With International Falconers From Nine Countries

The King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival 2025 has started at the Saudi Falcons Club site in Malham, north of Riyadh. The event, described as the world’s largest gathering of falcons, runs from , until , with wide local and international participation, and continues to build on three existing Guinness World Records.

Falconers from nine countries are taking part, led by participants from Gulf Cooperation Council states, alongside entrants from Italy, Ireland, and Syria. The opening programme features six qualifying rounds for elite Saudi competitors, divided across Pure Gyr, Gyr Hybrid, and Free Falcon classes, for both juvenile and adult birds.

The Saudi Falcons Club spokesperson Waleed Al-Tawil stated that this year’s edition pays special attention to passing falconry to younger generations. New categories have been set aside for children, women, and schools. These are described as a strategic move to widen participation and maintain an organised, sustainable transfer of the practice.

Alongside the main elite races, the schedule now includes specialised contests, such as the Nova Falcon round and a separate category for Mongolian falcons. These additions expand the technical range of the festival and give owners of different falcon breeds clearer competition paths within the overall programme.

The festival site in Malham opens to visitors every day from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Guests can follow the qualifying rounds and also explore exhibitions that present falconry equipment, from training gear to traditional tools, allowing enthusiasts and newcomers to see how the sport is practised and maintained.

Organisers have arranged a wide cultural and family offering beside the competitive events. Productive families’ displays showcase local crafts and products linked to falconry life. Sponsors’ pavilions, outdoor arenas, and heritage themed activities highlight the visual appeal of falcons and the long history of the sport in Saudi Arabia.

The "Future Falconer" pavilion forms a key part of the educational focus. It provides interactive and instructional activities for children, aimed at building basic skills and awareness of falcon care. Through these combined efforts, the King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival 2025 continues to reinforce its global status while supporting living falconry traditions within the Kingdom.

With inputs from SPA