RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Dec 24 (APP): The King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival, organized annually by the Saudi Falcons Club at its Malham headquarters north of Riyadh, has strengthened the Kingdom’s standing as a global hub for falconry, cementing its status as the world’s largest event of its kind through record participation and successive achievements since its launch.
The festival has seen steady growth in participation, prize money and competition categories, reflecting sustained efforts to preserve falconry as a living cultural heritage, support the falconry community and create a platform that brings together Saudi enthusiasts and professionals with peers from around the world, according to a statement issued on Wednesday.
The prize money has risen year on year over the past six years. In early 2019, total prizes exceeded SR17 million, increasing to more than SR21 million later that year. The total then reached SR23 million in 2020, SR25 million in 2021 and SR29 million in 2022, before surpassing SR33 million in 2023 and SR36 million in 2024. In 2025, prize money exceeded SR38 million, underscoring the club’s commitment to supporting the sport and encouraging competition among falconers.
The participation has also grown significantly. The number of competing falcons rose from 1,723 in early 2019 to 2,355 later that year, followed by 2,205 in 2020 and 2,110 in 2021. The figure increased to 2,256 in 2022 and 2,654 in 2023, reaching a record 3,322 falcons in 2024, the highest since the festival’s inception. The increase reflects strong local and international interest, as well as the diversity of categories in the Al-Milwah and Al-Mazayen competitions.
Alongside the rise in participation, the number of competition rounds expanded markedly. The festival featured 53 and 93 rounds in 2019, 85 rounds in 2020, and 106 rounds in both 2021 and 2022. This grew to 121 rounds in 2023 and more than 138 in 2024, reaching 139 rounds in the edition set to launch at the end of this year. The expansion has enabled broader participation, including owners, hobbyists, elite competitors, professionals and young falconers.
These indicators highlight the festival’s continued development, supported by advanced organizational standards and modern judging technologies. Its international stature has been reinforced by three Guinness World Records for the largest number of falcons participating in a single event, positioning it as a leading global destination for falconers from the Gulf and beyond, and showcasing the Kingdom’s cultural identity as a custodian of this ancient heritage.
The King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival will run from Dec. 25 to Jan. 10, 2026, with falconers from nine countries taking part, further promoting Saudi Arabia as a global destination for falconry.