Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The inaugural edition of the International Falcon Breeders Auction (IFBA) kicked off on Thursday at Saudi Falcons Club Grounds in Malham, north of Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh.

The auction, which will run until Sept. 5, is being organized by the Saudi Falcons Club with the participation of top falconers from around the world.

Speaking on the occasion, the CEO of the Saudi Falcons Club, Hussam Bin Abdulmohsen Al-Huzaimi, lauded the leadership’s keenness to support the Saudi heritage, especially the falconry, which was a popular hobby among our ancestors.

The antiquities discovered recently prove that the people of the Arabian Peninsula domesticated falcons thousands of years ago, according to the drawings and rock inscriptions on the land of Saudi Arabia, Al-Huzaimi added.

On its first night, the auction sales reached SR221,000.

The international auction aims to provide top-tier falcons for falconers in Saudi Arabia and the countries within the region by introducing the best falcon breeding farms and experiences around the world to the Kingdom, as well as creating new business opportunities.