RIYADH - Athari Alkhaldi stands out amid a sea of men and falcons at the Middle East's top falconry competition: the first Saudi woman to qualify and participate in the event.

"With my participation ... I proved I am here, that women can join this field, that it's not only restricted to men," she said, alongside her falcon Ma'aned.

Falconry is an important part of the desert heritage of Arabs of Saudi Arabia and neighboring countries going back thousands of years.

The two-week King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival, which gathers more than 4,000 falcons from the Gulf and further afield, honored Alkhaldi's presence with an award for the first female to make a qualifying competition flight with her bird.

Alkhaldi first participated last year, but her bird refused to take flight. Determined, she returned this year and her bird successfully flew.

"Dealing with the birds, it is not easy ... they are sensitive and need special treatment," she said, adding that it requires patience and persistence.

"Falconry has been a well-known heritage since ancient times. We take pride in it." she said.
The government-backed festival, in its third-year, has 22.7 million Saudi riyals ($6 million) in prize money to give out during beauty and flying contests.

Depending on the breed, falcon flight speeds can exceed 300 km (186 miles) an hour.

Alkhaldi said her passion for falcons first began 10 years ago and she has been developing her skills with the hunting birds ever since.

Festival spokesman Waleed Al-Taweel said the festival wants to promote the falconry culture among women and men.

"Honoring (Alkhaldi) is a continuation of the Kingdom's efforts to empower women in all areas," he said of the participation award given to her.

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