Falcon fetches 1.3 million riyals at Riyadh auction

A juvenile three-quarter Gyr Super White sold for 1.3 million Saudi riyals at the International Falcon Breeders Auction 2026 in Riyadh, making it the priciest bird at this year’s event and the second-highest sale in auction history. The sale came during the event’s seventh night, as bidding drew falconers, breeders and buyers from Saudi Arabia and abroad.

Why it matters: - The 1.3 million-riyal sale underscores how top-tier falcons remain major luxury assets in Saudi Arabia’s falconry market. - The price ranks as the second-highest in the auction’s history, trailing only a 1.75 million-riyal sale from a previous edition. - The auction continues to serve as a global marketplace for elite breeding stock and high-value falcons.

What happened: - A juvenile three-quarter Gyr Super White sold for 1.3 million Saudi riyals ($346,000) at the International Falcon Breeders Auction 2026 in Riyadh. - The bird was the most expensive falcon sold at this year’s event. - The sale took place on the auction’s seventh night at the National Center for Falcons headquarters in Malham, north of Riyadh. - Two falcons from a Canadian breeding farm sold during the same evening for a combined 1.45 million riyals ($387,000). - The auction runs until August 25.

The details: - The first Canadian bird, a juvenile Pure Gyr, opened at 40,000 riyals ($10,700) and sold for 150,000 riyals ($40,000). - The second Canadian bird, a juvenile three-quarter Gyr, opened at 200,000 riyals ($53,000) before strong bidding pushed the final price to 1.3 million riyals. - Last year’s top sale at the auction was a Pure Gyr Super White from a U.S. farm, which sold for 1.2 million riyals ($320,000). - The highest price in the auction’s history remains 1.75 million riyals ($467,000) for a juvenile Ultra White three-quarter Pure Gyr. - Sales are conducted through live bidding and broadcast on television and on the National Center for Falcons’ social media platforms. - Participating farms come from around the world, and the event draws falconers, breeders and buyers from Saudi Arabia and abroad.

Between the lines: - The bidding shows continued demand for rare falcon bloodlines and high-contrast color variants. - The strong result for a Canadian-bred bird suggests the auction has become a global price discovery event, not just a regional showcase. - The fact that this sale landed just below the all-time record suggests the premium market remains highly active, even outside headline-record birds.

What’s next: - More sales are expected before the auction closes on August 25. - Additional high-value birds could challenge this year’s top mark if bidding stays competitive. - The final results will show whether 2026 approaches the auction’s all-time record or settles below it.

The bottom line: - Riyadh’s falcon auction remains a high-end market where rare birds can command seven-figure prices and draw international attention.