Results of the Falcon Beauty Contest at the King Abdulaziz Festival 2025 – Day Two
The current edition of the King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival 2025 , the largest event of its kind globally, organized by the Saudi Falcons Club at its headquarters in Mulham (north of Riyadh), continued its activities. Tuesday evening witnessed fierce competition in the "Mazayin" contest, which focuses on selecting the most beautiful falcons according to precise aesthetic criteria, amidst a remarkable public turnout and wide participation from local and international falconers.
Round results: First appearance of the Mongolian category
The second day witnessed the crowning of the winners in three main rounds, which were distinguished by the entry of the "Mongolian" categories for the first time in the history of the beauty contests at the festival, and the results were as follows:
- Free round for young/adult falcons (Mongolian): Falconer Salman Al Abdulghani swept the top positions, with his falcon “Sultan” achieving first place, “Aliyan” second place, and “Shaqran” third place, while the falcon “Shadeed” belonging to owner Abdulaziz Al Jalban came in fourth place.
- Free round for young/adult black (Mongolian) falcons: Salman Al Abdulghani continued his dominance by winning four places; his falcon “Mulhim” came in first, “Arab” second, “Ramz” third, and “H1” fifth, while the falcon “Oqab” owned by Salman Al Balushi took fourth place.
- Free-range falcon (local production): The falcon “Waddah” owned by Hamid Al Mansouri won first place, followed by the falcon “Al Za’am” in second place, then the falcon “Samou” owned by Hamad Al Qahtani in third place, “Najd” owned by Zayed Al Qahtani came in fourth place, and “Dhahab” owned by Badr Al Aradi came in fifth place.
Historical context and the festival's global standing
This event further solidifies Saudi Arabia's position as a leading global destination for falconry. Since its inception, the King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival has successfully entered the Guinness World Records as the largest gathering of falcons in the world. The inclusion of new categories, such as the Mongolian falcon, in this year's beauty contest reflects the Saudi Falcons Club's commitment to continuous development and the inclusivity of the competition. This opens the door for rare and distinguished breeds to participate, enhancing the biological and aesthetic diversity showcased at the festival.
Cultural and economic impact of the event
The festival's importance extends beyond competition; it represents a significant cultural and economic driver, aligning with the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 to preserve intangible heritage and strengthen national identity. The festival contributes to revitalizing the falconry sector, supporting falconers and local breeding farms, and boosting heritage tourism in the Riyadh region. Furthermore, it serves as an international gathering for falconers from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and around the world, fostering brotherhood and cultural exchange through this time-honored tradition.
Huge cash prizes to support falconers
The festival organizers have allocated generous cash prizes for the winners of the beauty contests, with the first-place winner receiving 300,000 riyals, the second 175,000 riyals, the third 100,000 riyals, the fourth 30,000 riyals, and the fifth 20,000 riyals. The total prize money for the festival's two competitions, Al-Malwah and Al-Mazayin, exceeds 38 million riyals, reflecting the strong support provided by the wise leadership to this traditional sport, ensuring its sustainability and transmission across generations.
