Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The third edition of King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival, organized by the Saudi Falcons Club in Malham, north of Riyadh, is set to begin on Saturday (Nov.28).

The festival, which will run until Dec. 12, will bring together local and international falconers.

It will be held in implementation of the directives of Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, who is also the supervisor-general of the Saudi Falcons Club, to preserve the cultural heritage of Saudi Arabia and to achieve one of Vision 2030 goals.

The Saudi Falcons Club, the organizer of the festival, has completed its preparations for the launch of the big event amid stringent precautionary and preventive measures related to COVID-19, as the club confirmed that the safety of the participants, workers, and visitors of the festival is a top priority for officials in the club, stressing the importance of adhering to all health precautions by all those present.

It is noteworthy that the King Abdulaziz Falcon Festival is the largest of its kind in the world.

The festival will include Mazayen — a falcon beauty pageant — and Melwah, a falcon-calling contest (over 400 meters).

Each competition will be open to Farkh (less than one-year-old) and Qurnass (more than one-year-old) birds.

Six types of falcons will participate in the Melwah competition, which are: Al-Har, Al-Shaheen, Gir Shaheen, Taba Gir, Qarmousha Gir, and Ger Pure.