Watch: Most expensive falcon of 2026 sells for $346,000 in Saudi Arabia

A Canadian-bred juvenile three-quarter gyr Super White falcon sold for 1.3 million Saudi riyals, or $346,000, at an auction in Malham, Saudi Arabia, on the final night of the International Falcon Breeders Auction. The bird, bred by Jim Wilson Falcons in Ontario, Canada, broke the record for the most expensive falcon sold at this year's event and came in second highest in the auction's history.

The bidding began at 200,000 riyals ($53,000) and reached its peak with fierce competition among buyers. The falcon's owner, Shadeed Al Rashidi of Nova Falcon, described the purchase as priceless, emphasizing the rarity of such a bird. The falconry market in the Gulf region has seen a surge in sales, with the previous highest-priced falcon fetching 1.75 million riyals ($467,000) in 2021.

Falconry has a long-standing cultural significance in Saudi Arabia and the Arabian Peninsula, and auctions like this one serve as international marketplaces for specialist breeders and collectors. The auction proceeds contribute to popular falcon races in Saudi Arabia, with prize money amounting to approximately $12.5 million throughout the season. The event continues until August 25.