This comes as Riyadh prepares to host the International Saudi Falcons and Hunting Exhibition from October 1 to 10 at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center in Malham, north of the Saudi capital, according to a statement received in Jakarta, Wednesday.
The event, described as the largest of its kind in the world, will feature dozens of activities across culture, entertainment, tourism, and environmental sectors.
For readers in Malaysia and Indonesia, falconry can be understood as the traditional practice of raising, training, and handling falcons for hunting and sporting competitions.
In the Arabian context, it is closely linked to desert life, patience, skill, mobility, and the historical bond between humans and birds of prey.
Ahead of the exhibition, the International Falcon Breeders Auction will be held from August 5 to 25, bringing together local and international falcon producers, breeders, and breeding farms. These farms specialize in breeding and caring for falcons under regulated conditions, reducing reliance on wild capture and supporting more organized management of the sector.
The Saudi Falcons Club said its 2026 calendar includes a festival, two auctions, an exhibition, the Melwah Race, and the Saudi Falcons Club Cup. The club’s activities will run for nearly 120 days and aim to preserve Saudi national heritage, promote it locally and internationally, support falconry-related hobbies, and reinforce Saudi Arabia’s position as a global hub for falcons and falconers.
After the breeders’ auction, the Saudi Falcons Club Auction for locally captured falcons will open. It focuses on falcons captured during the migration season, including young migratory peregrine falcons.
The auction will receive falcons from October 1 to November 30, coinciding with the local falcon migration and capture season.
The club will also organize the Melwah Race from October 4 to 9. “Melwah” refers to a lure used by falconers to train and call falcons, while the race measures the bird’s speed over a set distance. Falconers will compete for cash prizes and titles across several categories.
From November 17 to 30, Saudi Arabia will stage the King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival, the world’s largest falconry gathering. The festival has previously broken its own Guinness World Record by registering 3,536 falcons in two main competitions: Al-Da’aw, a 400-meter speed race, and Mazayen, a beauty contest in which falcons are judged according to appearance, rarity, and physical qualities.
Prizes at the festival exceeded SAR38 million, or about USD10.1 million, along with major titles including the King Abdulaziz Cups, the King’s Sword, and the King’s Shalfah, all of which carry strong symbolic value among falconers.
The 2026 season will conclude with the Saudi Falcons Club Cup, scheduled from December 21 to 28, with local falconers competing in races designed to showcase the speed and skills of falcons over the field course.
The Saudi Falcons Club’s 2025 events attracted more than 800,000 visitors and featured the participation of over 5,200 falcons, reflecting how falconry in Saudi Arabia has evolved from a traditional practice into an organized cultural, sporting, and tourism sector with growing international visibility.
Reporter: Azis Kurmala
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2026
