Saudi Falconry Exhibition Draws More Than 764,000 Visitors
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s annual falconry and hunting exhibition drew more than 764,000 visitors over 10 days, organizers said on Saturday, underscoring the growing commercial and international profile of a tradition deeply rooted in the country’s desert heritage.
The Saudi International Falcons and Hunting Exhibition 2026 brought together more than 1,446 exhibitors and brands from 47 countries, as well as 44 government entities, at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center in Malham, north of the capital.
Organized by the National Center for Falcons, the 200,000-square-meter event combined falconry and hunting with outdoor activities, cultural displays, traditional crafts and technology.
Falconry has been practiced on the Arabian Peninsula for centuries and remains a prominent part of Saudi identity. The exhibition drew falconers, investors, companies and families, offering a venue for trade, competition and demonstrations of traditional practices.
Talal AlShamaisi, chief executive of the National Center for Falcons, said the event’s attendance and range of activities reflected continued support for preserving falconry heritage and passing its knowledge on to younger generations.
The exhibition included programs for children, a museum dedicated to falconry heritage, taxidermy displays, traditional hunting experiences, fishing, hiking, safaris, horse and camel riding, off-road driving, and shooting activities. It also hosted workshops and discussion sessions on history, poetry, traditional crafts, outdoor travel, vehicle preparation and safety.
A key attraction was the Al-Melwah Falcon Race, held over six days. The competition featured 12 rounds and offered total prize money of 723,000 Saudi riyals ($193,000), with awards going to the top five finishers in each round.
The falcons raced over 200 meters in six categories for young falcons, testing their speed as well as the training and preparation provided by their handlers.
The event also hosted the Mongolian Falcon Auction for a second consecutive year. A young hur falcon sold for 1.4 million riyals ($373,000), setting a record for the highest price paid in the auction’s history. Total sales at the auction exceeded 7 million riyals ($1.87 million).
The exhibition’s weapons, ammunition and accessories area displayed more than 5,000 products from over 181 international brands, including hunting and shooting firearms, air guns, ammunition, safety equipment and maintenance supplies.
Organizers also used the event to highlight the historic At-Turaif District in Diriyah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The initiative follows the exhibition’s previous focus on Al-Ahsa Oasis in 2024 and the Hima Cultural Area in Najran in 2025.
The National Center for Falcons said it would begin preparations for next year’s exhibition on Sunday. Its auction for locally trapped falcons will continue until Nov. 30, ahead of the King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival, scheduled for Nov. 17-30.
The festival will bring together falconers from Saudi Arabia and abroad for the Al-Melwah speed race and the Mazayen competition, where falcons are judged on their appearance and characteristics.
