New documentary sheds light on Saudi Arabia’s falconers

An eye-opening new documentary that sheds light on Saudi Arabia’s falconers is set to air this week, covering the events of the 2020 King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival, where over 1,000 falconers competed from countries as far and wide as Germany, Russia, Syria, Bahrain, UAE, Kuwait and of course Saudi Arabia.

Set to stream on the non-fiction educational network, National Geographic Asia, Wild Allies takes a behind-the-scenes look at the enchanting art of falconry along with the intense dedication and passion of the owners and trainers as they raise these beautiful creatures to compete in the kingdom’s biggest falconry racing event.

The documentary tracks the journey of some of the world’s most dedicated falcon trainers including the youngest participant in the 2020 festival, nine-year-old Saudi national, Shehanah Daifallah al Enezi who began falconry when she was just five years old.

Commenting on the documentary, Hussam al Huzaimi, CEO of the Saudi Falcons Club, said, “This fascinating documentary will appeal not only to those interested in falconry, but also to anyone with a love of wildlife or competitive sports.

“It’s a chance to follow the experiences and stories of several beautiful high-pedigree competition falcons, along with their proud owners and trainers, as they compete for the stage of their lives.”

Wild Allies will be available to stream on National Geographic Asia digital for three months starting from July 13.