Saudi Falcons Club launched King Abdulaziz Festival of Falconry at its first edition here today. The Festival will take place from January 25 to February 3. The Saudi Falcons Club allocated more than 17 million Saudi Riyals as cash prizes for the Festival's various competitions amid a high participation of amateurs of falcon hunting, falconers and lovers of picnics from inside and outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Covering about 650,000 square meters, Saudi Falcons Club seeks, through this festival, to gather falcon fans to exchange experience and knowledge in one place and time, encourage and support this kind of heritage and to introduce the cultural heritage of the peoples of the Arabian Peninsula, reflecting the Kingdom's interest in falcons and falconers. The festival aims to consolidate the cultural and environmental concepts of this heritage, especially since the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of 11 countries listed by UNESCO as the most famous falconry countries which are the home to various species and an important migratory route for other migratory falcons. The festival's organization comes after the success of the Saudi Falcon and Hunting Show which was held last month and witnessed great international and Gulf participation, amid an unrivaled success, especially as it is organized by the Saudi Falcons Club which was established by Royal Order of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and under the direct supervision of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.
