King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival Cementing Saudi Arabia’s Global Leadership In Falconry

The King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival, held at the Saudi Falcons Club headquarters in Malham north of Riyadh, has grown into the largest falconry event worldwide. The upcoming edition is scheduled to take place from , to , with falconers representing nine countries, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s position as a global home for falcons and falconry.

The festival functions as a major meeting point for Saudi falconers, regional enthusiasts, international professionals, and new participants. It offers a shared arena where heritage sport, tourism, and local communities intersect, while also supporting broader economic and social activity linked to falcon care, training, and competition services.

Since its launch, the King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival has expanded its scope every year in participation, prize value, and event variety. This steady rise reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to preserving falconry as an enduring cultural practice, while strengthening the falconry community and keeping traditional skills active among younger generations.

An important sign of growth at the King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival is the prize pool, which increased from more than SAR17 million in early 2019 to over SAR38 million in 2025. The higher prizes support trainers, breeders, and owners, and help attract elite competitors alongside hobbyists from inside and outside Saudi Arabia.

Falcon numbers at the King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival rose from 1,723 during the first 2019 edition to 3,322 in 2024, the highest figure so far. The festival has also achieved three Guinness World Records for the largest number of falcons in a single event, confirming its role as a key international gathering point.

The King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival now hosts 139 competition rounds, compared with 53 at the start, giving greater space for owners, enthusiasts, leading experts, and emerging falconers. Organisers use advanced judging systems and updated organisational tools, while keeping traditional rules clear, to handle the higher participation and maintain fairness across all categories.

Through its expanding scale, rising prizes, and growing international presence, the King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival strengthens Saudi Arabia’s image as a guardian of falconry heritage. The event links cultural identity with organised sport and regulated competition, while offering a stable platform that supports the falconry sector and its community each year.

With inputs from SPA