King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival Kicks Off with Falconers from Nine Countries

The King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival 2025 officially kicked off today, marking the world's largest gathering of falcons. Organized by the Saudi Falcons Club at its headquarters in Malham, north of Riyadh, the festival runs from December 25, 2025, until January 10, 2026, with wide participation from local and international falconers.

 The opening day featured six qualifying rounds for elite local competitors across several categories, including Pure Gyr (juvenile and adult), Gyr Hybrid (juvenile and adult), and Free Falcon (juvenile and adult).

 This year’s festival brings together competitors from nine countries, led by falconers from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, alongside participants from Italy, Ireland, and Syria. The event continues to strengthen its global presence after securing three Guinness World Records as the world’s largest falconry festival in terms of the number of participating falcons.

 Saudi Falcons Club spokesperson Waleed Al-Tawil explained that the festival places strong emphasis this year on passing the falconry tradition on to future generations. This includes dedicating specific rounds for children and women, in addition to a schools category, representing a strategic step toward expanding the participant base and ensuring the structured and sustainable transmission of the hobby to younger generations.

 He added that the festival also introduces new specialized rounds, such as the Nova Falcon round and another category dedicated to Mongolian falcons.

 Al-Tawil noted that the festival is open to visitors daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Alongside the main competitions, it offers a variety of experiences, including exhibitions of falconry equipment, productive families’ displays, the “Future Falconer” pavilion featuring educational and interactive programs for children, sponsors’ pavilions, and outdoor activities and events that showcase the aesthetics and rich heritage of falconry.