$80,000 peregrine falcon steals the show in Riyadh auction

The fourth Saudi Falcons Club auction featured the sale of the priciest peregrine falcon, known as a shaheen.

The event was launched on Oct. 1 and will continue until Nov. 15 at the club’s Malham headquarters near Riyadh.

With a starting bid of SR100,000 ($27,000), the falcon was eventually sold for SR300,000.

Another four falcons were sold on the same day for SR340,000, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The proceeds from the auction will go toward supporting investment in falcons, holding further auctions, and organizing the buying and selling processes.

Earlier, a peregrine falcon fetched a record sale price of SR250,000 at the auction.

The event aims to promote the Kingdom’s falconry heritage and support related cultural, civilizational and economic activities, organizers said, while offering opportunities to invest in a field that helps support the development of the national economy.

The Saudi Falcons Club offers accommodations and transportation for falcon owners. The auction is broadcast live on television channels and the club’s social media platforms.

During the club’s first edition, in 2020, 102 falcons were sold over the course of 20 days and the total value of sales exceeded SR10 million. At the second auction, 95 falcons were sold for a total of SR8.3 million, and during the third, 81 birds sold for more than SR7 million.