In a heritage atmosphere filled with the spirit of competition and excitement, the King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival 2025, organized by the Saudi Falcons Club at its headquarters in Mulham, north of the capital Riyadh, crowned 12 falconers from the elite of local falconers with the King Abdulaziz Cups within the (Al-Malwah) competition, amidst a large public attendance and wide international participation that reflects the global status that this event has reached.
Details of the winners in the elite rounds
The competition witnessed a fierce struggle between 120 falcons that qualified from the qualifying rounds, at a rate of 10 falcons in each round, resulting in a clear dominance by prominent names in the world of falconry:
- Amin Al-Mallah: He won the lion's share by achieving 5 cups, including the categories of (Gyr Pure Chick) and (Gyr Peregrine) through the two falcons “Al-Malika” and “Al-Qahira”, the category of (Gyr Pure Gyr Peregrine) with the falcon “Antar”, (Gyr Peregrine ...
- Team Expo: Shared the lead by also achieving 5 cups, in the categories of (Gyr Pure Chick) with the falcon “Jalmoud”, (Shaheen Chick and Adult) with the falcons “S74” and “Al-Adwani”, in addition to (Gyr Shaheen Chick) and (Gyr Tabaa Chick).
- Other champions: Hamid Barghash Al Mansouri won the (Free Young) category cup with his falcon “Oqab”, while Sultan Al Mutairi won the (Free Adult) cup with his falcon “Al Sadawi”.
The festival: a cultural legacy and a global dimension
The King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival is not merely a sporting competition; it is a major cultural event aimed at preserving the heritage of falconry in Saudi Arabia and the region, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 to strengthen national identity. The falcon is a symbol of pride and dignity in Arab culture, and falconry is registered on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage, giving this festival significant international weight.
The festival has succeeded in enhancing its global presence by entering the Guinness Book of World Records three times as the largest falconry festival in the world in terms of the number of participating falcons, making it a major destination for professional falconers from different continents, including participants from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Europe (Spain, Italy, Ireland), and Asia.
The competitions continue, and anticipation is high for the professional rounds
The festival continues with increasing momentum, as all eyes turn today, Wednesday, to the local professional falconry competitions, which will see participants vying for 12 additional trophies covering various falcon categories (Pure Gyrfalcon, Gyr-Peregrine hybrid, Gyr-Saker hybrid, Saker falcon, and Peregrine falcon) in both its young and adult forms. Fans of this traditional sport anticipate more records and surprises in the remaining days of the festival, which concludes next Saturday.
