Most expensive falcon sold nets $53,600 at Saudi Falcon Club auction

The most expensive falcon broke the previous record, which was set on the first night of the auction, for a Peregrine (Shaheen) falcon from Al-Masnaah. (SPA)
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Updated 12 October 2021
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Most expensive falcon sold nets $53,600 at Saudi Falcon Club auction

  • Five falcons were sold on the eighth night of the Saudi Falcons Club’s second auction with a combined value of $117,600
  • Event is being held north of Riyadh and will run until Nov. 15.

RIYADH: A young falcon in Saudi Arabia was sold for SR201,000 ($53,600), which was the most expensive falcon sold on the eighth night of the Saudi Falcons Club’s second auction, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

The event, organized by the club in Malham, north of Riyadh, will run until Nov. 15.

Five falcons were sold on Tuesday with a combined value of $117,600.

The most expensive falcon broke the previous record, which was set on the first night of the auction, for a Peregrine (Shaheen) falcon from Al-Masnaah. It was owned by falconer Taamees Al-Anzi and sold for $45,300.

Tuesday’s bidding started at $13,300 for the Peregrine (Shaheen) falcon from Jubail. Before it was sold for the new record, it was owned by falconers Fahd Al-Souwaiket and Rashid Raja Al-Hajiri.

The auction started with the first Peregrine (Shaheen) falcon (in the Qurnas category) from Dibdiba that was sold for $7,470. It was owned by falconers Ibrahim Aashi Al-Aanzi, Sultan Aashi Al-Aanzi, Faisal Aashi Al-Aanzi, Sami Saqr Al-Aanzi, Majid Aashi Al-Aanzi, Majid Suleiman Al-Aanzi, Mohammed Salameh Al-Aanzi, Abdullah Aashi Al-Aanzi and Abdullay Subeih Al-Aanzi.

The second Peregrine (Shaheen) falcon (in the Qurnas category) was from Wadi Bayed and was owned by falconers Gaby Ahmed Khalwi and Gebran Mohammed Athlawi before it was sold for $6,930.

In the same class, the third falcon from Labkhah (West of Riyadh) was sold for $14,900. It was owned by falconers Fayez Khalif Al-Omeiry, Salman Duhais Al-Kalwi, Fahd Eid Al-Omeiry, and Sultan Mehdi Al-Qahtani. The night ended with the fifth Peregrine (Shaheen) falcon from Wadi Bayed, owned by Abdullah Mohammed Bahloul, as it was sold for $34,700.

The Saudi leadership is interested in promoting the falconry heritage and serving falconers in the Kingdom and the region. The auction aims to support investment in falcons, develop falcon auctions and organize their purchase and sale.

It offers several advantages for participating falconers. The club’s five teams receive them in the central, eastern, northern, northwestern, and southwestern regions. They also examine the bird and document its bid.

The Saudi Falcons Club also provided housing and transportation for falcon owners to the auction site. The competitive bidding is broadcast live on television and the club’s accounts on social media platforms, along with the sale and purchase not being subject to any charges.

Following the sale of the falcon, an export certificate is issued, an electronic anklet is installed and official records are issued to finish the sales procedure.

The weapons pavilions at the Saudi International Falcons and Hunting Exhibition will open its doors for five additional days, after the Saudi Falcons Club accommodated the wishes of hunting trips enthusiasts and extended the pavilion through Oct. 15.


Pakistani ambassador to Saudi Arabia meets with CEO of Diriyah Gate Development Authority

Ahmad Farooq, Pakistan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, meets with Jerry Inzerillo, CEO of Diriyah Gate Development Authority.
Updated 11 sec ago
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Pakistani ambassador to Saudi Arabia meets with CEO of Diriyah Gate Development Authority

RIYADH: Ahmad Farooq, Pakistan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, met with Jerry Inzerillo, CEO of Diriyah Gate Development Authority in Riyadh.

The meeting focused on strengthening Saudi-Pakistani ties in the field of heritage and culture, the Pakistani Embassy wrote in a post on X on Sunday.

The ambassador presented Inzerillo with a painting from his own Diriyah-themed series, created to celebrate the Kingdom’s history and heritage.

He also presented him with a made-in-Pakistan FIFA-standard football “symbolizing Pakistan’s craftsmanship and the mutual spirit of friendship.”


Saudi reserve engages pilgrims on biodiversity

Updated 16 min 52 sec ago
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Saudi reserve engages pilgrims on biodiversity

  • Pilgrims were welcomed at Al-Shuqaiq in the Jouf region, where more than 4,000 gifts reflecting the reserve’s history and conservation efforts were distributed

RIYADH: Hajj pilgrims arriving in the Kingdom by land were introduced to projects and initiatives of the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority.

The initiative aims to enhance biodiversity, restore vegetation and breed endangered species to create a more sustainable natural environment.

The authority also distributed educational brochures to raise awareness about environmental preservation, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Pilgrims were welcomed at Al-Shuqaiq in the Jouf region, where more than 4,000 gifts reflecting the reserve’s history and conservation efforts were distributed.

Visitors were informed about the reserve’s environmental heritage, biodiversity, and commitment to sustainable ecological stewardship, the SPA added.

The authority works to preserve biodiversity by protecting habitats and creating safe environments for wildlife and plants to thrive.

Its achievements include planting more than 2.4 million trees, scattering four tonnes of native seeds and rehabilitating 250,000 hectares of degraded land.

The reserve hosts more than 290 documented bird species — about 58 percent of those recorded in the Kingdom — and includes five internationally recognized important bird areas.

Covering 130,700 sq. kilometers, the King Salman Reserve is the largest natural terrestrial reserve in the Middle East, spanning four administrative regions: Jouf, Hail, Northern Borders, and Tabuk.


Live show at Expo 2025 celebrates shared Saudi-Japanese maritime experience

Updated 59 min 41 sec ago
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Live show at Expo 2025 celebrates shared Saudi-Japanese maritime experience

  • Deep-rooted cultural connection in the spotlight 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has used the stage at Expo 2025 in Osaka to tell a story of Saudi-Japanese relations which spans the oceans.

In a live performance titled “Tales of the Sea,” the Kingdom’s pavilion brought together the seafaring traditions of Saudi Arabia and Japan, spotlighting a deep-rooted cultural connection anchored in pearl diving, patience, and poetry.

Held at the Saudi Courtyard Theater, the show centered on the figure of the nahham, a traditional Gulf singer whose role was to inspire pearl divers with his voice during long months at sea.

Japan’s ama divers, skilled women known for their sea diving expertise, were also featured to showcase their abilities and the risks they took in search of sea treasures. 

The performance told the story of a Saudi diver on a six-month journey to find the largest pearl, combining performance with visual storytelling projected across five towering 13-meter walls.

Interactive exhibits showcasing traditional diving tools and cultural artifacts invited visitors to engage more deeply, sparking conversations about resilience, tradition, and the Kingdom and Japan’s shared maritime legacies.

The audience responded with enthusiasm, drawn by the show’s emotional depth and the unexpected parallels between the two cultures.

The show captured the maritime memories of both nations, which were enhanced by Gulf chants blended with traditional Japanese music to help create an experience that reflected the partnership.

The Kingdom’s pavilion — the second largest at the expo after Japan’s — will host more than 700 events during the six-month fair, including concerts, films, and storytelling performances.

“Tales of the Sea” stood out as a clear example of how cultural exchange can be both meaningful and memorable.


Supreme Court calls on Muslims in Saudi Arabia to sight Dhul Hijjah crescent moon on Tuesday evening

Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court called on Muslims in the Kingdom to sight the crescent moon of Dhul Hijjah on Tuesday evening.
Updated 25 May 2025
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Supreme Court calls on Muslims in Saudi Arabia to sight Dhul Hijjah crescent moon on Tuesday evening

  • Court requested that anyone sighting the crescent moon with the naked eye or through binoculars report to the nearest court and record their testimony

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court called on Muslims in the Kingdom to sight the crescent moon of Dhul Hijjah on Tuesday evening, Saudi Press Agency reported.

Tuesday is the 29th of Dhul Qadah and if the crescent moon is sighted that day, the month of Dhul Hijjah, during which Hajj takes place, will start on Wednesday May 28. In this case, the first day of Eid Al-Adha will take place on Friday June 6.

If the crescent moon is not sighted on Tuesday evening, Dhul Hijjah will start on Thursday and the first day of Eid will be on Saturday June 7.

The court requested that anyone sighting the crescent moon with the naked eye or through binoculars report to the nearest court and record their testimony, or contact the nearest center to assist them in reaching the nearest court.


Islamic military coalition hosts training in Mali to counter terrorist financing

Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition concluded a specialized training program on combating terrorist financing in Bamako
Updated 25 May 2025
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Islamic military coalition hosts training in Mali to counter terrorist financing

  • Program aimed to strengthen national capacities to counter terrorist financing and money laundering
  • Initiative is part of a broader series of strategic activities by the coalition to support its member states

RIYADH: The Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition concluded a specialized training program on combating terrorist financing in Bamako, Mali, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

Conducted in cooperation with Mali’s Ministry of Defense and Veterans Affairs, the program aimed to strengthen national capacities to counter terrorist financing and money laundering.

The initiative is part of a broader series of strategic activities by the coalition to support its member states, the SPA added.

The launch event was attended by Lt. Gen. Sadio Camara, Mali’s minister of defense and veterans affairs; Maj. Gen. Mohammed Al-Moghed, secretary-general of the coalition; senior diplomatic and military officials; and representatives from national and international organizations.

The program featured a scientific lecture, “Financial Investigations into Terrorism Financing and Money Laundering Crimes,” attended by more than 200 participants, including security, oversight, and judicial personnel.

The session covered methodologies for financial tracking, analysis of illicit networks, and shared relevant international experiences.

Additionally, a closed workshop, “Methods of Countering the Financing of Terrorist Organizations in the Sahel Region,” brought together specialists from key national and regional entities.

Discussions focused on shared challenges, successful models, ongoing initiatives, and mechanisms for enhanced cooperation.

The event concluded with a reaffirmation of the importance of sustained collaboration between the coalition and its member states.

Participants emphasized the need to expand training and capacity-building efforts to enhance institutional readiness and strengthen collective responses to security threats across the Sahel region.