Saudi Falcons Club spokesman says auction sales reached $172,000

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Saudi Falcons Club spokesman Walid Al-Taweel said that the club has so far sold six falcons for SR645,000 ($172,000). (Supplied) 
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Updated 11 October 2022
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Saudi Falcons Club spokesman says auction sales reached $172,000

  • The auction began with falconer Sami Al-Balawi’s peregrine Qirnas (over 1 year old) falcon being sold for SR40,000
  • The SFC aims to develop falcon auctioning in the Kingdom by preserving its cultural and economic value

RIYADH: The Saudi Falcons Club auction witnessed many successes over five nights, according to the club’s official spokesman Walid Al-Taweel, who said it has so far sold six falcons for SR645,000 ($172,000). 

The third edition of the SFC auction is being held at the club’s headquarters in Malham, north of Riyadh, and will conclude on Nov. 15. 

Al-Taweel told Arab News that the club seeks to encourage the participation of experienced falconers in the auction through prizes. He added that the SFC’s calendar is full of surprises, with the launch of the King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival upcoming this December, an event that is highly anticipated by falconers all over the world.

The auction began with falconer Sami Al-Balawi’s peregrine Qirnas (over 1 year old) falcon being sold for SR40,000 to Ali Al-Otaibi. 

Then came the competition for the second falcon, a young peregrine, who was sold for SR76,000 to Bandar Al-Enizi. 

The young falcon belonged to falconers Yasser Al-Majed, Saddam Al-Banaqi and Habis Al-Hazimi. 

In the Arabian Peninsula, falcons are revered as an inheritance and legacy that represents a large part of the region’s culture, and the peregrine is regarded as the most predatory bird of all falcon subspecies.

Sultan bin Towais Al-Qahtani, businessman and expert in the field of falconry, told Arab News: “The price of falcons is determined by their weight, color and characteristics, such as shoulders and legs.

“Qirnas refers to falcons over the age of 1 year old. Unlike the Qirnas, young peregrines come with a bigger price tag, just as wild peregrines are more expensive than those that are trained,” Al-Qahtani added. 

The SFC aims to develop falcon auctioning in the Kingdom by preserving its cultural and economic value and welcoming falconry lovers and those interested in raising the animals from all around the world. 

The club offers many advantages to falconers through its teams across the Kingdom. It provides a way to regulate and organize the buying and selling falcons in Saudi Arabia. 

The club’s teams receive the owner of the falcon — also known as Al-Tarouh — in their respective region, and then provide housing and transportation for the Tarouhs to the auction house.

The falcon is then offered in a competitive, direct and fast auction that is broadcast live on television channels and SFC social media accounts without the buying and selling process being subject to any fees.

Once the sale is finalized, electronic anklets for the falcons are installed, and official documents are issued to complete the sale procedures. 

The Al-Melwah race was also launched, organized by the club on Fridays and Saturdays over six weeks in conjunction with the auction. 

Al-Taweel said that the Al-Melwah race aims to promote falconry, raise awareness of the importance of preserving falcons, train younger generations in the sport and enable falconers to practice their hobby.

The first day of the race, which was dedicated to the saker falcon chick category, witnessed great excitement. Six categories competed — the lanner falcon, saker falcon, peregrine falcon, gyr pure, gyr taba and gyr garmoosha — with prizes amounting to SR756,000.

Many falconers said that the Al-Melwah race encouraged them and enabled them to practice their hobby. Falconer Wadih Al-Saadi praised the club’s efforts, noting that the race has many advantages, as it breaks the stagnation period and puts falconers in the spirit of competition.

Falconer Abdullah Ghazi, who said this was his first time participating, said that Al-Melwah race is a good opportunity for falconers from all over the Kingdom to meet. He noted that the incentives offered by the club have contributed to the return of many falconers to this hobby.

Fahd Al-Hajri stressed the importance of the race at this time, saying that it helps falconers determine the readiness of their birds, especially chicks who still need to get used to racing.

Al-Hajri thanked the club for its efforts to serve falconers and preserve this ancient heritage.

The SFC allocated valuable prizes for each run of the Al-Melwah race, offered to the first five places in each run. 

The first-place holder receives SR25,000, the second-place holder receives SR15,000, the third-place holder receives SR10,000, the fourth-place holder receives SR8,000 and the fifth-place holder receives SR5,000.


Saudi students display robotic inventions at Robocon 2025

Updated 7 sec ago
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Saudi students display robotic inventions at Robocon 2025

  • Event was attended by student inventors, investors and technology companies
  • Several panel discussions focused on ways in which robotics can affect society

RIYADH: Saudi students displayed their robotic inventions at King Abdulaziz University Robocon 2025, which was held at the university’s King Faisal Convention Center from Tuesday to Thursday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Organized by the university’s Deanship of Student Affairs, the event was attended by student inventors, investors and technology companies.

Saudi student Samar Awad Al-Rabi, from the Faculty of Medical Rehabilitation Sciences at King Abdulaziz University, presented a smart temperature-monitoring device, aimed at protecting sensitive environments from sudden thermal changes.

Rania Al-Mukhtar Al-Sheikh, from Taibah University, presented an innovative treatment for dry macular degeneration, an eye disease that affects vision.

The device treats and repairs damaged cells, reduces inflammation, and improves bloodflow without damaging healthy tissues with the hope of restoring or improving vision.

Exhibition activities included a range of qualitative competitions, including the “Saqr” competition, which is the first engineering competition focused on drone technologies.

In another competition — the Robocup —robots battled it out on a miniature football pitch.

The event also featured the launch of the innovtech Hackathon, a coding challenge that will include four main tracks focusing on technology in education, tourism, manufacturing and the financial sector.

Several panel discussions focused on ways in which robotics can affect society — including one titled Turning Point: Transforming Tech Ideas into Successful Projects, which explored how to market technological inventions.

The exhibition offered a range of interactive experiences, including virtual reality exhibits and practical workshops that contributed to the skill development of participants.

An interactive game invited attendees to collect stamps from different attractions to win a prize, and visitors were served Arabic coffee by robots.

The university said that the event reflects its vision of empowering students and building a generation that will lead the future of robotics and smart technologies.


KAUST researchers join Africa marine research expedition

Updated 23 min 13 sec ago
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KAUST researchers join Africa marine research expedition

  • Mission began in Moroni, Comoros, with the team sailing south through the Indian Ocean to Cape Town, South Africa
  • Researchers focused on assessing biodiversity at several seamounts — underwater mountain formations

RIYADH: Researchers from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology joined the Saudi non-profit foundation OceanQuest on its first marine expedition around Africa aboard the research vessel OceanXplorer.

The mission began in Moroni, Comoros, with the team sailing south through the Indian Ocean to Cape Town, South Africa.

Researchers focused on assessing biodiversity at several seamounts — underwater mountain formations.

A second phase, designed for early-career oceanographers, proceeded north to Walvis Bay in Namibia before concluding scientific operations in Mindelo, Cabo Verde.

The KAUST research team, comprising two PhD candidates from the Marine Microbiome Lab and one from Earth Science and Engineering, conducted research in biodiversity assessment, seamount studies and chemical analysis.

The team compared seamount formation in the Indian Ocean with similar geological phenomena in Saudi waters.


Ministry of Tourism inspects hospitality facilities ahead of Hajj

Saudi Arabia’s tourism ministry conducted an inspection of Hajj hospitality facilities. (SPA)
Updated 31 min 32 sec ago
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Ministry of Tourism inspects hospitality facilities ahead of Hajj

  • Al-Mazyad is assessing whether preparations and procedures of multiple hospitality establishments are following the tourism law and its executive regulations

RIYADH: Deputy Minister of Licensing and Classification at the Ministry of Tourism Abdulmuhsen Al-Mazyad has been conducting field tours of hospitality facilities in Makkah to ensure readiness for receiving pilgrims during the Hajj season.

Al-Mazyad is assessing whether preparations and procedures of multiple hospitality establishments are following the tourism law and its executive regulations.

The deputy minister is especially concerned about whether these establishments have obtained the proper operational licensing from the Ministry of Tourism.

As part of its efforts to grow sustainable partnerships with the tourism sector, the ministry’s delegation has also sat with hospitality investors and operators at the Makkah Chamber of Commerce.

Enhancing the quality of service in Makkah and the rest of the Kingdom, managing hardships faced by investors and operators, and the ministry’s commitment to combating those hardships, have all been discussed during the meetings.


Thunderstorms expected across Saudi Arabia until Sunday

Updated 34 min 8 sec ago
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Thunderstorms expected across Saudi Arabia until Sunday

  • Makkah province is expected to see moderate to heavy rainfall with potential flash floods, hail, and dust-stirring winds
  • Riyadh province will also experience light to moderate rainfall, flash floods, hail, and dust-stirring winds

RIYADH: Thunderstorms are expected across most of Saudi Arabia throughout the weekend until Sunday, according to the General Directorate of Civil Defense.

Makkah province is expected to see moderate to heavy rainfall with potential flash floods, hail, and dust-stirring winds, affecting areas like Taif, Maysan, Al-Muwayh, Turbah, Al-Khurmah and Ranyah.

Riyadh province will also experience light to moderate rainfall, flash floods, hail, and dust-stirring winds, affecting areas including Afif, Al-Dawadmi, Al-Quwayiyah, and Shaqra.

Moderate to heavy rainfall is expected in Jazan, Aseer, Al-Baha, and Madinah regions, with moderate rain in Hail and light to moderate rain in Najran and Qassim.

The directorate advised caution, avoiding flood-prone areas such as valleys, and refraining from swimming in them.

It also encouraged staying informed about the latest weather updates through official media channels and social media platforms.


Saudi crown prince meets Palestinian vice president

Updated 08 May 2025
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Saudi crown prince meets Palestinian vice president

  • The meeting focused on the latest developments in Palestine

The Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, received on Thursday Vice President of Palestine, Hussein al-Sheikh, at his office in al-Salam Palace in Jeddah.

The meeting focused on the latest developments in Palestine and explored ways to strengthen joint efforts in support of the Palestinian cause and the rights of the Palestinian people.

The reception was attended by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah.

From the Palestinian side, attendees included Diplomatic Advisor to the Palestinian President Majdi al-Khalidi, President of the General Authority of Civil Affairs Mr. Ayman Qandil, and Head of the Vice President's Office Ms. Aya Muhaisen.