Record-Breaking Falcon Sells for 1.3 Million Riyals at Riyadh Auction

In an extraordinary evening beneath the northern lights of Saudi Arabia’s capital, the Riyadh Falcon Farm Auction at Malham erupted into high-stakes competition. Bidding intensified rapidly as participants vied for rare birds, culminating in one of the largest transactions ever recorded in the heritage of Arabian falconry.

What drove the 1.3 million riyal price?

The centerpiece was not merely a bird but a strategic acquisition rooted in scarcity and prestige: a “Malthuth Ger” falcon whose final bid shattered expectations. The hammer fell at 1.3 million Saudi riyals—roughly $346,000—securing its place as the most expensive falcon sold this year and the second-highest price in the auction’s historical ledger.

The seventh night of the auction, organized by the National Falconry Center in Malham, drew elite falconers from across the globe. A Canadian farm’s exhibition immediately captured attention upon unveiling its rare stock. Competition opened with a “Ger Pure” chick selling for 150,000 riyals, having started at just 40,000 riyals.

The bidding surge for the “Malthuth Ger”

True intensity ignited when the “Malthuth Ger” chick entered the sale. Bids leapt instantly from zero to 200,000 riyals, transforming the hall into a fiercely contested financial arena among top collectors. The final gavel confirmed the historic 1-million-riyal threshold—reaching precisely 1.3 million riyals.

After the auction concluded, Shadid Al-Rashidi, representing Nova Falcon—the company that secured the bird—summarized the transaction in a video released by the center: “This bird is extremely rare. Rare birds simply cannot be assigned a fixed price. They are, quite literally, priceless.”

Historical context of record prices

While this year’s sale sets the 2026 benchmark, the absolute record remains held by a “Malthuth Ger Pure Ultra White” chick, which previously sold for 1.75 million riyals. This year’s falcon surpasses last year’s top seller, a bird acquired by an American farm for 1.2 million riyals.

This exceptional heritage and commercial festival remains open through 25 August, reinforcing Riyadh’s status as a global hub where multi-million-riyal deals converge with enduring reverence for the living legacy of falconry.