Malham: The National Center for Falcons inaugurated the International Falcon Breeders Auction 2026 on Wednesday at its headquarters in Malham, north of Riyadh. This 21-day event, running from August 5 to 25, brings together a select group of local and international falcon breeding farms.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the auction functions as a specialized marketplace for breeding farms, falconers, and buyers, allowing participating farms to showcase their birds in dedicated pavilions while sales are conducted through a live, competitive bidding platform. The venue also features exhibitors of falconry equipment, with television coverage and live streaming across social media platforms, expanding the event's reach to local and international audiences.
National Center for Falcons CEO Talal Al-Shamaisi stated that this year's edition marks a new phase in the center's operations by offering a diverse selection of premium falcon breeds, streamlining the exhibition and sales process, and providing comprehensive services to breeding farms and their falcons from arrival in Riyadh through ownership transfer.
Al-Shamaisi described the auction as the world's largest gathering of falcon breeding farms, uniting leading breeders from around the globe. He emphasized that the event provides a valuable platform for exchanging expertise and hosting workshops for falconers and breeders, contributing to the development of the falcon breeding sector. He noted that the 2025 edition attracted 67 breeding farms from 23 countries, with continued year-on-year growth in sales, participating farms, countries, and the number of falcons offered.
He added that this year's auction builds on that momentum by expanding breeder participation and offering buyers a wider selection of falcons. For the first time, all rounds of the farkh category in the Melwah competitions will be limited exclusively to falcons sold through the International Falcon Breeders Auction, directly linking auction purchases to the competition circuit and providing participants with access to elite falcons from local and international breeders.
In 2025, the auction generated sales exceeding SAR13 million, a 23% increase over 2024. The number of falcons sold rose by 27% to 1,103, while participation increased to 67 breeding farms across 23 countries, including 19 Saudi farms, up 20% in participating farms and 21% in participating countries. The highest-priced falcon sold last year was a pure white gyrfalcon from a U.S. breeding farm, which fetched SAR1.2 million, while previous editions have recorded individual sales reaching SAR1.75 million.
Preparations for international participation begin well before the event, with specialized arrangements covering transportation, reception, and veterinary care. Falcons are flown into King Khalid International Airport before being transported to the auction venue in Malham, where they undergo health examinations and receive necessary care before being presented for sale.
The sales process begins with an agreement between the seller and buyer, followed, when requested, by a veterinary examination. The falcon's species and category are verified, legal and financial procedures are completed, ownership records are updated, and an identification band is fitted before the official transfer of ownership is finalized.
