Qatar’s Biggest Falcon Festival Begins
One of the region’s biggest hunting and falconry events has taken off at Sabikhat Marmi – Mesaieed (Sealine), shedding light onto culture, sports and heritage.
The month-long event includes falcon competitions for adult and younger falcons, and features beautiful birds from all around the world.
The unique event attracts dozens of contestants across the Gulf region annually to take part in ‘unusual’ speed and prey hunting competitions to bag a big cash prize, as well as the prestigious title.
This year’s Visual Acuity competitions at the Qatar International Falcons and Hunting Festival include Adult Saker, Pigeon Chasing: Juvenile Peregrine, Al Da’u, Promising Falconer and Young Falconer, Saluki Racing, Hadad Al Tahaddi, and Al Mazzain.
Only purebred Arabian Saluki dogs are permitted to compete in Saluki Racing (non-crossbred). The Salukis race and pursue the deer gazelle for two kilometres in an attempt to win.
Hadad Al Tahaddi, on the other hand, targets juvenile peregrine falcons.
As the competition’s first target, one Zajil pigeon (Homer pigeon) is released to fly away; if the falcon can catch up with it or surround it in one spot, it is declared the winner.
The winning falcon’s owner could win up to QR100,000 in prize money.
On the final day of the festival, January 28, Katara Hall will host Al Mazzain, an international competition for the most beautiful falcons.
Falcons are held in high regard in Qatari society, and falconry is a well-known sport in the Gulf. Al Gannas, a cultural association for hunters, was founded in 2008 with the goal of promoting traditional Arabian hunting.
The association represents Arab hunters in regional and global competitions, as well as organising its own events to promote and preserve the sport. It also has the best hunting facilities and equipment, and it promotes field research and studies.
