Monday, August 26, 2024 The 2024 International Falcon Breeders Auction (IFBA), hosted by the Saudi Falcons Club, successfully wrapped up its first session of the season, establishing a new standard in the realm of falconry. Throughout its 20-day run, the event garnered over 10 million riyals from the sales of 866 distinguished falcons to new owners. Participation included 56 top breeding farms from 19 countries, highlighting the event’s international prestige in the falconry community.
The Saudi Falcons Club’s spokesperson, Waleed Al-Taweel , said the IFBA marked its fourth year with a spectacular showcase of world-class birds. Hosted at the club’s Melham headquarters north of Riyadh, the event featured hundreds of premier falcons over 11 nights of intense bidding. Al-Taweel noted that beyond the main auction floor, participating breeders’ pavilions buzzed with activity, offering attendees additional opportunities to view and acquire exceptional birds throughout the event’s duration.
“This year’s selections were unparalleled,” noted Al-Taweel, acknowledging the noticeable rise in high-quality, unique, and award-winning falcons at the auction. This increase in quality meets the rising global demand among falconers. In a significant development, the Saudi Falcons Club has also announced major prizes for the falcons that will participate in the upcoming King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival on November 28, an event anticipated to draw leading falconers from within the Kingdom and globally.
A notable sale at this year’s auction was a young Ultra White Gyr hybrid, which fetched 400,000 riyals. Bred by Pacific Northwest Falcons in the U.S.
, this sale highlights the auction’s extensive international reach. “Our auction has established itself as the top venue for high-caliber falcons globally,” Al-Taweel remarked, emphasizing the vibrant and competitive nature of the event that attracts participants worldwide. The auction gained additional exposure by being televised live and streamed on the club’s social media platforms, captivating a global audience of falcon enthusiasts.
The IFBA is now celebrated as the foremost falconry event globally, marking a significant advancement this year. It boasted an unprecedented range of participant farms, broadening investment opportunities in falconry and fostering growth among Saudi breeders. These local farms benefit from engaging with global best practices and insights shared by international breeders.
As the leading global forum for falcon trade, the auction convenes falconers and breeders annually, operating under strict protocols set by the Saudi Falcons Club. The auction is pivotal in supporting the Saudi Falcons Club’s mission to lead in falconry innovation, including breeding, raising, and care of these noble birds. It not only preserves falconry’s rich cultural legacy but also aims to establish the Kingdom as a top destination for falconers and falcons worldwide.
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