HE the Minister of Development Planning and Statistics Dr Saleh Mohamed Salem al-Nabit and Turkish ambassador Fikret Ozer were among the dignitaries who visited the Katara International Hunting & Falcons Exhibition - S’hail 2017 on Saturday.

The five-day event, which has been attracting hunting and falconry enthusiasts right from the start, concludes Sunday.
During the visit, Ozer expressed his country’s readiness to participate in the second edition of S’hail as it drew a wide range of audiences and featured high-quality participation of local and international repute, according to a press statement from Katara – the Cultural Village Foundation.



The exhibition features various attractions.


Among the unique attractions of the expo are some special creations from Saker Arts, meant for the discerning client. Made of precious metals and latest technological designs, the falcon icons are exclusive works of art that capture the passion of falconry and Arabic heritage.
Catering to the tastes of Qataris for several years now, Claire and Rogers Griffiths have been excelling for Saker Arts in the region. Claire stressed that the first edition of the exhibition has been a revelation, saying: “We produce exclusive works of art based on the art of falconry. We design custom-built art pieces using modern technology for the discerning client, which we are showcasing at the exhibition.
“We fix appointments with our clients, lay the design brief and take it from there. Most of our pieces would cost a minimum of QR500,000.”
Adding a slice of nostalgia to the exhibition are vintage cars and trucks parked just outside the main venue.
A set of vintage trucks and 4x4 vehicles used for hunting years ago are on display. The well-preserved cars are of various makes, which Qataris mainly used for hunting trips. Some of these date back to the 1950s.
The vehicles on display have drawn the attention of amateur photographers, who have been lining up to take pictures of both the exterior and interiors. It’s a great opportunity for automobile lovers to actually see these phenomenal machines and that, too, in mint condition.
While there are many restaurants and eateries all around the Cultural Village, the one specially set up for visitors to the Katara International Hunting & Falcons Exhibition - just outside the venue hall and facing the fountain area – come with a particularly scenic setting as well as authentic and delicious offerings.
In keeping with the theme of hunting, the traditional barbecue area offers patrons food made from the catch of sparrows, quail and pigeons.