The Al-Malwah Race will begin tomorrow, October 4, as part of the Saudi International Falcons and Hunting Exhibition 2026, organised by the National Center for Falcons at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center in Malham, north of Riyadh.
Held under the theme “A Destination for Everyone,” the exhibition brings together falconry, hunting, adventure, travel and cultural experiences.
12 Rounds Across Six Falcon Types
This year’s Al-Malwah Race has expanded to 12 rounds, running from October 4 to 9. Two rounds will be held for each of the six falcon types, with one for owners and amateurs and another for the elite and professional category.
The six types are:
- Pure Gyr falcons
- Peregrine falcons
- Gyrkin falcons
- Pure Gyrkin falcons
- Gyr-Teba falcons
- Gyr-Peregrine falcons
The elite and professional competitions will begin on October 4 with the Pure Gyr and Peregrine rounds. On October 5, competitors will take part in the Gyrkin and Peregrine rounds, followed by the Gyr-Peregrine and Gyr-Teba rounds on October 6.
The owners and amateurs category will begin on October 7 with the Pure Gyr and Peregrine rounds, followed by the Gyrkin and Peregrine rounds on October 8. The category will conclude on October 9 with the Gyr-Peregrine and Gyr-Teba rounds.
Participation Limited to Auction Falcons
Participation in the Al-Malwah Race is limited to young falcons purchased through the International Auction of Falcon Breeding Farms.
The National Center for Falcons introduced the decision to restrict participation to auction falcons, supporting the presence of farm-bred falcons in the competition.
The expansion to 12 rounds represents an increase from last year, when the race featured six rounds, with one round for each falcon type.
SAR 723,000 in Prizes
The total prize pool for this year’s competition stands at SAR 723,000, distributed among the top five positions in each round.
The owners and amateurs category has a total prize pool of SAR 261,000. The winner of each round will receive SAR 15,000, while second place receives SAR 10,000, third SAR 7,500, fourth SAR 6,000 and fifth SAR 5,000.
The elite and professional category offers SAR 462,000 in total prizes. Winners of each round will receive SAR 25,000, followed by SAR 20,000 for second place, SAR 15,000 for third, SAR 10,000 for fourth and SAR 7,000 for fifth.
A 200-Metre Test of Speed
The race tests the falcon’s speed and responsiveness over a 200-metre course.
Each falcon starts from the “Al-Sanah” starting point and flies towards the “Al-Malwah” finish line, recreating a traditional practice associated with falconry in a competitive format for visitors to experience at the exhibition.
