Sealine: The 17th edition of the Qatar International Falcons and Hunting Festival, also known as Marmi 2026, commenced today at the Marmi Sabkha in the Sealine area, under the patronage of HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani. The festival, organized by the Qatar Al Gannas Association and supported by the Social and Sports Activities Support Fund (Daam), will run until the 24th of this month.
According to Qatar News Agency, the festival opened with the Hadd Al Tahaddi Championship, a competition between young peregrine falcons and homing pigeons. In this event, a homing pigeon is released first, followed by the falcon. If the falcon catches or traps the pigeon at a specific location, it wins a prize of QAR 100,000 and qualifies for the final round, where a Lexus car is at stake.
The initial group of the Hadd Al Tahaddi Championship saw five falconers qualify and win: Al Shamsi Team from the UAE, Al Gharbiya Team, Al Mishghar Team, Al Nasraniya Team, and Mohammed Ahmed Al Harbi from the UAE. The winners and qualifiers were crowned by Chairman of the Marmi Festival Mutaib Mubarak Al Qahtani and his deputy Abdulwahab Umair Al Nuaimi at the festival venue.
Chairman of the Committees and Official Spokesperson of the Marmi Festival, Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Ali, stated that the 17th edition reflects ongoing development in organization, field operations, and competition regulations, demonstrating the festival's commitment to preserving Qatar's falconry heritage. Al Ali mentioned that each edition introduces new elements, either by developing regulations or adding new competition categories.
Al Ali highlighted the focus on youth this year through the introduction and development of the promising falconer rounds, aimed at instilling a love of falconry among younger generations. He noted that the festival's vision includes moving participants from the Junior Falconer category to the Promising Falconer category, facilitating the enhancement of falconry skills.
The festival's international dimension was also emphasized, with Al Ali affirming it as an open event for all falconers, showcasing Qatari heritage at both regional and international levels. He stressed the importance of falconry in Qatari identity and the longstanding bond between falconers and their birds.
Chairman of the Hadd Al Tahaddi Championship, Shawi Al Kaabi, reported that the hunting challenge competitions began positively. He emphasized the importance of participants adhering to competition regulations and ensuring safety, noting the use of tracking devices and specialized judges to monitor and evaluate performances without risk.
Al Kaabi urged participants to arrive early for technical and organizational preparations, aiming for fair and well-organized competitions that reflect the spirit of falconry. The winners expressed gratitude to the organizing committee, recognizing the event's role in preserving Qatari, Gulf, and global heritage.
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalid Al-Thani, a member of the Al Mishghar team, expressed joy at qualifying for the Hadd Al Tahaddi final. He noted the team's previous successes and readiness for competition, highlighting the intensity from the first day and commending the festival's organizers.
The qualifying rounds of the Al-Tal'a Championship for groups one through five will begin tomorrow, with the evening session featuring the second group of the Hadd Al Tahaddi Championship. The festival is an annual effort by Qatar to preserve falconry as a heritage, following its inclusion in UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2011, attracting thousands of participants globally.