RIYADH: Sales at the fourth Saudi Falcons Club auction exceeded SR3.2 million ($853,000), 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. Four falcons were sold for SR385,000, bringing the sales total so far to SR3.2 million, the SPA said on Monday. The proceeds from the auction will go toward supporting investment in falcons, holding further auctions, and organizing the buying and selling processes. Organizers said that 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. Earlier, a peregrine falcon from Al-Awiqila in the Kingdom’s Northern Borders Region stole the show at auction, fetching a record sale price of SR250,000. During the auction, the club showcased 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.