Falcons, hunting exhibition opens at Katara

The sixth edition of the International Hunting and Falcons Exhibition, also known as S’hail,  opened at the Cultural Village Foundation, Katara yesterday.  

Katara General Manager, Prof Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, termed the exhibition a vital platform for the preservation of culture and heritage of hunters and falconers. 

A strong turnout of visitors was witnessed on the first day of the exhibition yesterday. Visitors included H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of Qatar Olympic Committee; Ambassador of Niger to Qatar, H E Mubarak Hassan Boubaca; H E Sheikh Naim bin Abdul Malik Al Suhail, Deputy Chief of the Presidential Court in Iraq; H E Muhammad Issa Al Issawi, Chargé d’Affairs at the Embassy of Iraq; and several other  diplomats.

The sixth edition, according to Prof Dr. Al Sulaiti, demonstrates how S’hail has changed significantly over the years, reaching its intended goals and becoming a unique platform that showcases the genuine history of Qatar in the field of hunting and falcons in innovative and varied ways.


Falcons on display at the exhibition.

He highlighted how the Cultural Village Foundation was hosting a variety of exhibitions and conferences to revitalise, promote, and improve the local, regional, and international cultural scene. S’hail, one of Katara’s most notable projects, helps promote Qatari culture and history in areas of falconry and hunting.

The exhibition will run until Saturday, September 10. It features 180 major companies specialising in hunting weapons, hunting supplies, and falcons among others. About 20 countries are participating in this year’s edition. They include Qatar, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Pakistan, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Türkiye, UAE, and others.

The exhibition is open everyday from 10am to 10pm. On Friday, however, it will open from 2pm to 11pm.

Along with the companies showcasing their falconry and hunting equipment, a number of government agencies including the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC) are also taking part.

MoECC Director of the Public Relations Department Farhoud Hadi Al Hajri said the Ministry issues passports for falcons, which can be obtained at its pavilion at the exhibition. This is the first time MoECC has participated in S’hail. Other government entities taking part in the exhibition are the Ministry of Municipality, the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Transport and Communication, Souq Waqif Falcon Hospital, Aspire, and Katara Hospitality, among others.

A number of lectures will also be held throughout the event. A lecture on “Saqqeer Campaign Qatar to Release Falcons: Results and Prosperity” by Dr. Farouk Omar Al Ajli, Director of the Qatar Falcon Genome Project at the Al Gannas Association, will be held today. Another lecture on “Techniques for Houbara Breeding in Captivity” will take place tomorrow. “Emerging Diseases in Falcons: Symptoms, and Ways of Prevention” will be discussed on Thursday. Cultural and artistic events are also lined up at the exhibition, including a drawing event involving 12 local artists. Competitions such as the best pavilion and the best falcon hoods will take place.