The International Saudi Falcons and Hunting Exhibition 2026 hosted an evening panel discussion titled "The Documented History of Hunting and Falconry in the Kingdom," drawing visitors and enthusiasts of the field to a session devoted to the heritage's historical record, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Researcher Mohammed bin Khathlan presented archival evidence, manuscripts and historical sources documenting the practice of hunting with birds of prey and falconry across the Arabian Peninsula, tracing how the associated knowledge developed over successive eras and how it remained present through the stages of the Saudi state, including the attention paid to the tradition by the Kingdom's kings. He also reviewed aspects of the connection between hunting and falcons and the history of the founder, King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud, and the continuity of care for this heritage across the reigns that followed.
The session examined how hunting methods and the training of birds of prey evolved, alongside the knowledge preserved in Arabic writings on the subject, as well as falconry's ties to the local environment and the accumulated expertise passed down through generations. Bin Khathlan noted that safeguarding the falconry heritage depends on historical documentation that carries its knowledge to future generations, pointing to the influence of the Arabian Peninsula's natural environment in shaping the relationship between people and hunting and falconry.
He added that the turnout and interest the exhibition is witnessing reflect the community's pride in its history and civilization, giving young people a chance to learn about the roots of falconry and the knowledge and practices inherited across generations. The session forms part of the wider programme accompanying the International Saudi Falcons and Hunting Exhibition 2026, held in Riyadh.