The activities of the ninth edition of the Al-Utief Forum for Rare Free-Range Sheep festival will launch on Friday, 17 Safar 1448 AH, corresponding to July 31, 2026, at the Al-Utief Center on the Riyadh–Taif Highway, under the supervision of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture's office in Taif Governorate, with expectations of wide attendance from owners and breeders of free-range sheep and those interested in this sector from various regions of the Kingdom and Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

The forum is one of the most prominent specialized gatherings for rare free-range sheep. Over the past years, it has established itself as a platform that brings together major owners, producers, and enthusiasts, contributing to highlighting this national heritage and enhancing its economic value, as well as stimulating buying and selling activities and exchanging expertise among specialists. Although the festival's activities last only one day, starting from after Asr prayer until late hours of the night, it has achieved remarkable numbers in terms of participants and visitors. The eighth edition recorded the largest attendance in the forum's history, whether in terms of the number of owners, the volume of offerings, or the great public turnout from fans of luxurious free-range sheep.

The media spokesperson for the festival and owner of free-range sheep, Omar bin Saad Thallab Al-Subaie, explained that Al-Utief Forum has built a distinguished presence among specialized forums since its first edition until reaching the ninth, based on consistent organization and the trust it has earned among owners and breeders of free-range sheep in the Kingdom and Gulf countries. He pointed out that the supervision of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture's office in Taif Governorate contributed to supporting the forum and enhancing its status. He stated that the festival plays an important role in serving the rare free-range sheep sector by gathering owners and producers in one place, providing an opportunity to display rare breeds, stimulating buying and selling, as well as enhancing communication and exchange of expertise among interested parties. Al-Subaie added that the forum site's capacity exceeds approximately 150 pens, all of which witness great demand from participants and visitors. He confirmed that the forum has witnessed sales transactions at high prices in previous editions, exceeding in some cases 200,000 riyals and reaching more than 300,000 riyals for exceptional heads, reflecting the high market value of this type of sheep, despite the lack of precise official statistics on the total sales volume. He affirmed that the eighth edition was exceptional in terms of attendance density, sales activity strength, and diversity of participants, which was reflected in the great demand to participate in the ninth edition. He noted that the organizing committee continuously receives requests from owners and breeders from inside and outside the Kingdom to participate in this event. Al-Subaie concluded his statement by emphasizing that the arrival of the Al-Utief Forum to its ninth edition is a clear evidence of its success in establishing itself as one of the most important forums for rare free-range sheep at the local and Gulf levels, and its role in preserving this authentic heritage, supporting its owners and producers, and enhancing its economic value, in line with the growing interest in developing the livestock sector and preserving rare local breeds. Observers believe that the Al-Utief Forum is no longer just a market for buying and selling sheep, but has become an annual occasion that contributes to preserving rare breeds, encouraging breeders to develop production, transferring expertise between generations, in addition to supporting the economic activity related to the livestock sector, thereby enhancing the status of free-range sheep as one of the authentic heritages that receives increasing attention. With the upcoming launch of the ninth edition, eyes are turning to the Al-Utief Center, where owners and those interested look forward to a new edition that is expected to be an extension of the series of successes achieved by the forum in past years, and to confirm its position as one of the most important forums for rare free-range sheep in the Kingdom and Gulf countries, and a prominent supporter of preserving this national heritage and enhancing its economic and social value.