RIYADH: The Saudi Falcons Club has finalized preparations for the King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival, scheduled to take place from Dec. 3 to 19 at the club’s headquarters in Malham, north of Riyadh.

Recognized as the largest world’s gathering of falcons, the festival will feature a distinguished group of falconers, including amateurs, professionals and falcon owners from Saudi Arabia and abroad.

They will compete in Al-Mellwah (falcon racing) and Mazayen (falcon beauty pageant) competitions, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The club's CEO, Talal Al-Shamaisi, said that the festival’s primary aim is to advance falconry as a cultural hobby while preserving and promoting this Arab tradition.

He said that the club strives to position falconry as a major heritage tourism attraction, fostering national pride and engaging younger generations in a competitive yet spirited environment.

The festival also aligns with efforts to promote environmental conservation and protect wildlife, Al-Shamaisi added.

He said that the festival has earned a spot in the Guinness World Records three times for hosting the world’s largest gathering of falcons.

This year, the competition will span 17 days and feature 138 rounds, with more than 900 prizes up for grabs, totaling SR36 million ($9.6 million).

In addition to the main competitions, the festival will feature various accompanying events.

The club’s spokesman, Walid Al-Taweel, said that one of the highlights will be the Falconer of the Future Pavilion, aimed at engaging and educating the next generation of falconers.

This initiative will incorporate interactive activities blending modern technologies with traditional falconry knowledge, history and hunting techniques.

Al-Taweel said that the festival will have 10 internal pavilions displaying falconry and hunting gear, as well as trip equipment. These pavilions will offer a comprehensive experience for visitors, combining authenticity with adventure.

Al-Mellwah, the racing competition, will have 49 qualifying rounds, while the Mazayen competition will feature six rounds for falcons sourced from international production farms, in addition to special rounds for emerging young falconers.

Falconers will compete for prestigious prizes, including the King Abdulaziz Cups and the coveted King’s Sword, underscoring the festival’s role in celebrating the cultural heritage of falconry and pushing the boundaries of competitive spirit.

Riyadh: Saudi aid agency KSrelief has signed a joint agreement to support orphans in Ilorin, Nigeria.

Under the agreement, 800 orphans aged 2 to 18 will receive housing, food, healthcare and education through orphanages in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in Kwara State.

About 150 orphans between the ages of 15 and 18 will be trained in craft trades to help them earn a living, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

KSrelief also signed a cooperation agreement with a civil society organization to establish a residential complex for internally displaced persons in the Midi district of Yemen’s Hajjah governorate.

The project, valued at $3.81 million, will benefit 4,094 people, SPA reported.

The initiative will provide 232 housing units, each consisting of two rooms, a kitchen, a bathroom, and an open courtyard.

Additional facilities will include a secondary school, a mosque and a children’s playground to support residents and the host community.

Both agreements were signed by KSrelief’s Assistant Supervisor General for Operations and Programs Ahmed Al-Baiz at the center’s headquarters in Riyadh.