RIYADH: A record number of Saudi farms are showcasing their elite birds at this year’s International Falcon Breeders Auction. Of the 35 farms taking part, 13 are from the Kingdom, which highlights the country’s commitment and dedication not only to the event itself but also to falconry as a culture and sport. Naif Abdulmohsen Al-Masoud, from the Al-Nader Center for Falcons in Jeddah, is among the local breeders taking part in the event, which opened on Monday and runs until Aug. 24. He said he was grateful to the Saudi Falcons Club, which organizes the event, for its support for local farms. The facilities provided by the club to breeders had made a significant contribution to their work, he said. The auction, held in Malham, north of Riyadh, is the largest of its kind anywhere in the world and provides a platform for falconers and falcon producers to meet and share their knowledge and expertise.