Results of the Al-Malwah competition at the King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival 2025
In a spirited competitive atmosphere at the Saudi Falcons Club headquarters in Malham, north of the capital Riyadh, 12 international professionals were crowned with the King Abdulaziz Cups in the "Al-Malwah Competition" at the King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival 2025. This prominent global event continues until next Saturday, bringing together elite falconers from around the world in a unique heritage event.
Cultural heritage and profound civilizational dimension
The King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival is more than just a passing sporting competition; it is a cornerstone of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's efforts to preserve the rich cultural heritage of falconry, which is inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The festival aims to instill this heritage in future generations, strengthen national identity, and build bridges of cultural exchange between peoples through this noble sport, which has been known to Arabs since ancient times and is deeply intertwined with their lives and history.
Gulf dominance in professional rounds
The international professional falconry competitions witnessed a large turnout of 224 falcons, with Gulf falconers showcasing exceptional skills. Bahraini falconers secured four prestigious trophies; falconer Mohammed Al-Hajri won the "Mathlouth Gyr Qarnas" category with his falcon (50 Adhari G), while Team BHR claimed the "Hurr Qarnas" title with their falcon (27). Falconer Ahmed Al-Hajri achieved a remarkable double victory, winning both the "Shaheen Farakh" and "Qarnas" categories with his falcons (S1) and (Dhahab S56).
On the Emirati side, the UAE teams made a strong showing, with Team F3-S winning four trophies in various categories, including "Pure Gyrfalcon (young and adult)" with falcons B16 and Almutawatar, "Gyrfalcon-Peregrine hybrid (adult)" with falcon S9, and "Gyrfalcon-Peregrine hybrid (adult)" with falcon T50. Team F3 also added three more trophies to its tally in the categories of "Gyrfalcon-Peregrine hybrid (young)," "Peregrine-Peregrine hybrid (young)," and "Peregrine-Peregrine hybrid (young)." Emirati Mohammed Al Balushi concluded the UAE's triumph by winning the "Peregrine-Peregrine hybrid" trophy with his falcon Alqam.
Nova Shot: A special competition for Mongolian falcons
Amidst the festival's diverse offerings, the "Nova" category, dedicated to Mongolian falcons, was held, witnessing fierce competition that culminated in a victory for the "Bin Jeraa" team with their falcon (H12). Falconer Sultan Al Amer came in second with his falcon (H6), while falconer Hamid Al Mansouri secured third place, reflecting the meticulous organization and the variety of categories encompassing different falcon breeds.
Global standing and record-breaking achievements
The King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival has cemented its position as the world's largest gathering of falcons, setting three Guinness World Records, reflecting the massive participation and professional organization. This year's festival boasts remarkable international participation extending beyond the Gulf and Arab regions, including falconers from Spain, Italy, Ireland, and Pakistan, underscoring the festival's global impact and its role in positioning the Kingdom on the world's heritage tourism map.
All eyes will be on the "Elite Locals" rounds tomorrow, where 12 King Abdulaziz Cups will be contested in multiple categories including purebred Gyrfalcon, Peregrine Falcon, Saker Falcon, and Saker Falcon, in its two branches, the young and adult, in an anticipated conclusion to the competitions that bring together the elite of local falcons.
