Riyadh: Sales at the fourth Saudi Falcons Club auction exceeded SR2 million ($533,000) after two birds were sold for SR192,000, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The auction was launched at the club’s Malham headquarters near Riyadh on Oct. 1 and will continue until Nov. 15. The first falcon, a young peregrine from the town of Haradh in Al-Ahsa governorate, was sold for SR127,000, while a second from Al-Shuaiba in Makkah Province went for SR65,000. Earlier, a peregrine falcon from Al-Awiqila in the Kingdom’s Northern Borders Region, stole the show at the auction, fetching a record sale price of SR250,000. And a shaheen falcon, from Al-Lith city in Makkah Province, sold for SR135,000. Organizers said the event aimed to promote the country’s falconry heritage and support related cultural and economic activities, while also offering opportunities to invest in a field that helped support the development of the national economy. During the auction, the club outlined investment in falconry in Saudi Arabia and the development of the sector, including regulations governing the buying and selling of birds. The Saudi Falcons Club offers accommodation and transport for falcon owners, while the auction is broadcast live on television and the club’s social media platforms. During the club’s first auction, in 2020, 102 falcons were sold over 20 days, with total sales exceeding SR10 million. At the second auction, 95 falcons were sold for a combined SR8.3 million, and during the third, 81 birds sold for more than SR7 million. Meanwhile, the fifth International Saudi Falcons and Hunting Exhibition in Malham recently concluded, drawing a significant crowd with an array of attractions. The event included a pavilion for real gun and machine gun shooting experiences, alongside virtual reality shooting simulations. In addition to falconry and poetry, a traditional knitting pavilion featuring heritage textiles, accessories, and handicrafts proved popular. Saudi companies also showcased the latest hunting weapons in a range of calibers at the exhibition.