RIYADH: Visitors enjoyed watching and learning about falcons at the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival recently.

The display was part of a “Hadad Al-Soqoor Experience” showcasing authentic Saudi culture at the festival site in the Al-Sayahid desert.

A variety of falcon species, including the peregrine falcon and the gyrfalcon, both symbols of Saudi heritage, were featured in a pavilion display that highlighted the rich falconry culture that has been part of Bedouin life in the Kingdom for centuries.

The falconer supervising the pavilion said that raising falcons is a proud legacy passed down through the generations, serving as both a source of inspiration and a means of livelihood through participation and trade.

He pointed to a growing interest among the young in acquiring falcons, evidence of falconry’s enduring appeal.

Tourists and visitors praised the event’s seamless organization, as well as its blend of entertainment and education.

The opportunity to be photographed with falcons was also part of the festival’s broader initiative to celebrate and promote Saudi cultural heritage.