The Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Dragan Bisenić, visited the 2024 King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival at the headquarters of the Saudi Falcons Club in Malham, north of Riyadh, where he observed the qualifying rounds of the King Abdulaziz Cup and praised the Kingdom’s efforts to preserve falconry as a living heritage. The visit, reported by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), offered the Serbian envoy and his accompanying delegation a first-hand look at one of the world’s largest gatherings dedicated to the ancient sport, an event that has become a flagship demonstration of Saudi Arabia’s commitment to cultural preservation and international cultural exchange.
During the tour, Ambassador Bisenić was introduced to the advanced technologies the club uses to measure falcons’ speed over a 400-meter distance, a system that blends traditional desert craft with modern precision engineering. He also toured the festival’s accompanying exhibitions, receiving briefings on the protocols falconers follow in feeding their birds, the methods of falconry hunting, and the seasonal rhythms that govern the sport. Could there be a clearer example of how Saudi Arabia honors its past while embracing the tools of the future? The visit underscored the growing international stature of the festival, which each year draws falconers, breeders, and dignitaries from across the region and beyond to the desert plains of Malham.
Context and Background
The King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival is organized annually by the Saudi Falcons Club, a body established under the patronage of the Kingdom’s leadership to safeguard falconry as an integral element of Saudi identity and Arab heritage. Held at the club’s headquarters in Malham, north of Riyadh, the festival has grown into the largest event of its kind in the world, combining competitive falconry with exhibitions, educational programming, and a marketplace for breeders and enthusiasts. Why does an event rooted in the desert traditions of centuries past attract such intense global interest today? Part of the answer lies in the scale and organization that Saudi Arabia has brought to the sport, transforming it from a scattered seasonal practice into a structured international calendar of competition.
Falconry holds a special place in the cultural memory of the Arabian Peninsula. For generations, Bedouin communities relied on trained falcons for hunting, and the relationship between falconer and bird became a symbol of patience, skill, and respect for nature. In 2010, UNESCO inscribed falconry on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity following a multinational nomination that included the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, alongside other Arab and international partners. The Saudi Falcons Club has since positioned itself as a guardian of that legacy, hosting events that keep the tradition visible, accessible, and relevant to younger generations. Ambassador Bisenić’s visit therefore carried a significance beyond protocol: it connected a European diplomatic mission with a Saudi institution whose work resonates across continents.
The presence of a Serbian ambassador at the festival also reflects the widening diplomatic and cultural ties between the Kingdom and the countries of Southeast Europe. Saudi Arabia has steadily expanded its engagement with Serbia and its neighbors in recent years, exploring cooperation in trade, investment, tourism, and cultural exchange. Events such as the King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival provide a natural platform for that relationship to deepen, offering visiting officials a window into Saudi traditions that no briefing document could replicate. What better way to understand a nation than to stand beside its people at one of their most cherished annual gatherings? The ambassador’s itinerary, which included detailed briefings from club officials, suggests a genuine curiosity about the sport and the heritage it represents.
Key Details of the Visit
According to the Saudi Press Agency, Ambassador Bisenić and his delegation observed the qualifying rounds for the King Abdulaziz Cup, the centerpiece competition of the festival. The cup draws elite falconers from Saudi Arabia and abroad, with birds timed as they fly a measured 400-meter course. The club’s timing technology, which the ambassador was shown in operation, represents a significant investment in fairness and accuracy, ensuring that results are determined by measurable performance rather than subjective judgment. In a sport where fractions of a second can separate winners from runners-up, such systems have become indispensable. How often does a traditional pastime benefit so directly from cutting-edge engineering? The answer at Malham is: every single day of competition.
The ambassador’s tour extended well beyond the racing lanes. He visited the festival’s accompanying exhibitions, where he received briefings on the protocols falconers follow in feeding their falcons, including the careful balance of nutrition and conditioning that keeps birds in peak form. He learned about the methods of falconry hunting that have been passed down through generations, and about the seasonal calendar that governs when and where falconry is practiced. These are not merely technical details; they are the grammar of a cultural language that Saudi Arabia has worked diligently to keep alive. The delegation’s evident interest in these finer points speaks to the depth of the encounter, which went far beyond a ceremonial walk-through.
One of the highlights of the visit was a briefing on the “Hadad” program, an initiative that aims to return falcons to their natural habitats. The program reflects a conservation ethic that has become central to the Saudi Falcons Club’s mission. By rehabilitating and releasing birds back into the wild, the club contributes to ecological balance while reinforcing the principle that responsible stewardship is part of the falconry tradition itself. Ambassador Bisenić commended the club’s efforts to preserve the heritage of falconry, pass it on to future generations, and strengthen Saudi identity, of which falconry is an integral part. His words echoed a sentiment widely shared among international visitors to the festival: that Saudi Arabia has found a way to modernize without erasing the past.
International and Regional Impact
The King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival has become a meeting point for a global community of falconers, breeders, veterinarians, and conservationists. Participants travel from the Gulf states, the wider Arab world, Central Asia, Europe, and beyond, drawn by the festival’s reputation for organization, prize values, and genuine cultural immersion. For Saudi Arabia, this international turnout is a soft-power asset of considerable value. It positions the Kingdom as a convener of heritage-focused dialogue, a role that complements its growing profile in global diplomacy, sport, and tourism. Why do so many international guests return year after year? The festival’s combination of competition, hospitality, and education creates an experience that is difficult to replicate elsewhere.
For Serbia and the broader Balkan region, the ambassador’s visit may open doors to cultural and economic cooperation that extends beyond falconry. Saudi Arabia has been deepening its ties with Southeast Europe, and cultural diplomacy often precedes commercial agreements. A delegation that has seen the Kingdom’s heritage institutions at work is better placed to identify opportunities in tourism, equestrian and outdoor sports, and cultural programming. Regional observers note that the festival’s international dimension aligns with Saudi Arabia’s broader strategy of building bridges across continents. In a world where cultural misunderstandings can complicate even the most promising partnerships, encounters like the one at Malham serve as quiet but effective instruments of goodwill.
Economic and Strategic Significance
The festival is not only a cultural landmark but also an economic engine. It supports a specialized market for falcons, equipment, and related services, generating business for breeders, trainers, and traders. The Saudi Falcons Club’s investment in timing technology, exhibitions, and visitor infrastructure creates jobs and attracts spending to the Riyadh region. Auctions and competitions associated with falconry have become significant commercial events, with birds sometimes changing hands for substantial sums. Does this sound like a niche hobby? In Saudi Arabia, falconry is a serious industry as well as a cherished tradition, and the festival showcases both dimensions to a global audience.
Strategically, the event reinforces Saudi Arabia’s position as a custodian of Arab and Islamic heritage. By hosting an annual gathering of this scale, the Kingdom demonstrates that modernization and tradition can advance together, a message that resonates with international audiences and with Saudi youth. The Saudi Falcons Club’s programs, including conservation initiatives such as “Hadad,” also align with global environmental priorities, giving the festival a relevance that extends beyond sport. For visiting diplomats like Ambassador Bisenić, the experience offers a concrete example of how Saudi institutions operationalize cultural policy. The strategic value lies in the accumulation of such impressions over time, building a reservoir of international understanding and affinity.
Vision 2030 Alignment
The King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival sits comfortably within the framework of Saudi Vision 2030, the national transformation plan that seeks to diversify the economy, enrich quality of life, and celebrate the Kingdom’s cultural identity. Vision 2030 explicitly recognizes heritage as a pillar of national strength, and the Saudi Falcons Club’s work exemplifies that principle in practice. By preserving falconry, transmitting it to younger generations, and presenting it on an international stage, the club contributes to the vision’s cultural and social objectives. Can a single festival carry such weight? When it is backed by sustained institutional commitment and genuine public passion, the answer is yes.
As the 2024 edition of the festival continues at Malham, the visit of Ambassador Dragan Bisenić stands as a reminder of the bridges that cultural heritage can build. The Kingdom’s long-term vision places Saudi Arabia at the center of global cultural exchange, and every international delegation that experiences the festival firsthand becomes part of that story. The Saudi Falcons Club will continue to welcome guests from around the world, confident that the traditions on display are not relics of the past but living practices with a future. In the years ahead, falconry will remain a proud emblem of Saudi identity, carried forward by institutions, falconers, and friends of the Kingdom across the globe.
20 Questions
Q1. Who visited the 2024 King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival?
A1. The Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Dragan Bisenić, visited the festival with an accompanying delegation, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Q2. Where is the King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival held?
A2. The festival is held at the headquarters of the Saudi Falcons Club in Malham, located north of Riyadh, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Q3. What competition did the ambassador observe?
A3. Ambassador Bisenić observed the qualifying rounds for the King Abdulaziz Cup, the main competitive event of the festival, where falcons are timed over a set course.
Q4. What technology was demonstrated to the visiting delegation?
A4. The delegation was introduced to advanced technologies used by the Saudi Falcons Club to measure falcons’ speed over a 400-meter distance during competition.
Q5. What exhibitions did the ambassador tour?
A5. The ambassador toured the festival’s accompanying exhibitions, where he received briefings on falcon care, hunting methods, and the seasonal practices of falconry.
Q6. What is the “Hadad” program?
A6. The “Hadad” program is an initiative of the Saudi Falcons Club that aims to return falcons to their natural habitats, supporting conservation and ecological balance.
Q7. What did Ambassador Bisenić say about the festival?
A7. He commended the club’s efforts to preserve the heritage of falconry, pass it on to future generations, and strengthen Saudi identity, of which falconry is an integral part.
Q8. Which organization hosts the festival?
A8. The festival is organized by the Saudi Falcons Club, an institution dedicated to preserving falconry heritage and promoting the sport in the Kingdom and internationally.
Q9. When did the visit take place?
A9. The visit took place during the 2024 edition of the King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency on December 7, 2024.
Q10. Why is falconry important in Saudi Arabia?
A10. Falconry is an integral part of Saudi identity and Arab heritage, rooted in desert traditions and recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
Q11. How does the festival support Vision 2030?
A11. The festival supports Vision 2030 by celebrating cultural heritage, enriching quality of life, and showcasing the Kingdom’s ability to modernize while preserving tradition.
Q12. What briefings did the ambassador receive on falcon care?
A12. He was briefed on the protocols falconers follow in feeding falcons, including nutrition and conditioning practices that keep birds healthy and competitive.
Q13. What is the significance of the 400-meter measurement?
A13. The 400-meter distance is the standard course over which falcons are timed, allowing fair and precise comparison of speed among competing birds.
Q14. How does the festival promote international exchange?
A14. The festival attracts falconers, breeders, and dignitaries from many countries, creating opportunities for cultural dialogue and diplomatic engagement between Saudi Arabia and other nations.
Q15. What hunting methods were explained to the delegation?
A15. The delegation learned about traditional falconry hunting methods and the seasonal calendar that governs when and where falconry is practiced in the Kingdom.
Q16. What economic activity does the festival generate?
A16. The festival supports a specialized market for falcons, equipment, and services, generating business for breeders, trainers, and traders, and attracting visitors to the Riyadh region.
Q17. How does the Saudi Falcons Club preserve heritage?
A17. The club organizes competitions, exhibitions, and educational programs, and runs conservation initiatives like “Hadad” to ensure falconry traditions endure for future generations.
Q18. What message does the ambassador’s visit convey?
A18. The visit conveys international appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s cultural preservation efforts and highlights the growing cultural ties between the Kingdom and Serbia.
Q19. What role does UNESCO play in falconry?
A19. UNESCO inscribed falconry on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010, recognizing its cultural value across many countries.
Q20. What does the future hold for the festival?
A20. The festival is expected to continue growing as a global gathering, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s role as a custodian of heritage and a hub for international cultural exchange.
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