Saudi falcon auction nets record sales of SR10m

Cairo/Dubai: An international falcon breeders auction has wrapped up near the Saudi capital Riyadh, generating record sales of SR10 million, organisers said.

The auction, which kicked off in August and ran for more than a month, brought together falconers and breeders from 14 countries, establishing itself as the largest of its kind in the region, spokesman for the Saudi Falcon Club Walid Al Taweel said.

Around 400 falcons were sold during the auction grossing record SR10 million, he added.

A young falcon sold for more than $467,000 (SR 1.750 million), the most expensive sale ever of that bird, local media reported.

The auction held in the Saudi Falcon Club in Malham north of Riyadh will be followed by more events of interest to falconers in the world and around the world, the official said.

They include a major Saudi falconry exhibition due to start on October 1 and continue for 10 days. “It will be the only platform in the kingdom that draws companies and individuals from inside and outside the kingdom selling falconry hunting equipment,” Al Taweel added, according to the Saudi news agency SPA.

The exhibition will coincide with another falcon auction due to be held on October 1-November 15 featuring local breeds. The first edition of the local falcon auction was held last year and generated a high turnout.

The yearender will be the widely anticipated fourth edition of the King Abdulaziz Falcon Festival scheduled for November 26-December 16, the biggest of its kind that set Guinness World Records twice in a row, according to the official.

Falconry is a popular hobby and an essential part of cultural heritage in the Arabian Peninsula.