Racing under the Melwah format got underway on October 4 at the International Saudi Falcons and Hunting Exhibition 2026, held at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center in Malham, north of Riyadh, and organized by the National Center for Falcons, with the competition set to continue through October 9.
The 2026 edition is structured around 12 rounds that bring together six types of falcon chicks, split into two tracks: one for owners and amateurs and another for elite competitors and professionals. Eligibility for the race is restricted to chicks that were sold at the International Falcon Breeders Auction, a condition that organizers say expands the share of farm-bred falcons taking part in the competition.
Prize money across all rounds reaches SAR723,000, divided between SAR261,000 for the owners and amateurs category and SAR462,000 for the elite and professionals category. The race itself is decided over a 200-meter course, where a falcon's speed and response are measured from the moment it is released until it reaches the finish line.