Top Winners Shine at King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival
The desert north of Riyadh is alive with the beating of powerful wings and the awe of ancient tradition. At the Malham headquarters of the Saudi Falcons Club, the King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival is reaching a magnificent crescendo, once again proving itself as the undisputed global epicenter for this majestic heritage sport.
This week, the festival’s prestigious international Milwah lure-racing competition crowned its champions. In a thrilling display of speed and skill over 400 meters, twelve international professionals rose to the top, their falcons a blur of focused precision. The victory podium showcased the festival’s wide-reaching appeal, with falconers from Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates each securing four of the coveted King Abdulaziz Cups. They triumphed in a fiercely competitive field that featured 224 of the world’s finest racing falcons.
But the festival’s allure extends far beyond the racetrack. As the races continue, another celebrated tradition has begun: the Mazayen beauty pageant. This is where artistry meets nature, as falcons are presented and judged against rigorous aesthetic standards. The pageant, running until January 8th, has drawn connoisseurs and enthusiasts from across the Kingdom and the world, all eager to witness avian elegance at its finest. The stakes are high, with significant prizes adding to the prestige—the top beauty champion will claim a grand prize of SR300,000.
What makes this event truly remarkable is its scale and international character. With participants flocking in from Gulf nations, Spain, Italy, Ireland, Pakistan, and the Syrian Arab Republic, the festival is a vibrant cultural crossroads. It’s a living testament to a shared passion that transcends borders. This expansive vision has been the key to its phenomenal growth since its 2019 launch, previously earning it three Guinness World Records for the largest falcon festival on the planet.
The numbers this year are staggering: 139 competitive rounds, over 1,012 prizes, and a total prize pool exceeding SR38 million. This commitment ensures that every aspect of falconry—from the raw speed of the Milwah races (categorized for owners, amateurs, professionals, and elite competitors) to the refined beauty of the Mazayen—is honored and celebrated.
The King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival is more than a competition; it is a profound celebration of a deep-rooted heritage. It’s where history takes flight, where tradition is nurtured with modern grandeur, and where the timeless bond between human and raptor is displayed in all its thrilling, beautiful forms. As the event continues until Saturday, the world watches, reminded that some traditions don’t just endure—they soar.
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