The Qatar International Falcons and Hunting Festival (Marmi) attaches great importance to consolidating the heritage of falconry as an integral part of Qatar’s popular heritage, in addition to its status as a global legacy since it was inscribed on Unesco’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2011, thanks to the efforts of the State of Qatar along with a number of Arab and foreign countries.
Since its launch in 2010, the festival has been keen in every edition to engage children and young people in the atmosphere of its events through competitions and championships dedicated to them. This has helped build an early connection between younger generations and their heritage. Initially, the festival included two main competitions: the Young Falconer competition, which consists of simplified educational programmes explaining the basics of falconry, methods of caring for falcons, their types, and the tools used; and the Promising Falconer competition, which moves from introducing this heritage to its practical application by young participants.
The Promising Falconer competition is designated for the age group from 5-16 years and takes the form of a Da’w (lure) competition over a distance of 200 metres, in accordance with specific conditions for the falcon, including that its size does not exceed 15 inches. The competition features two categories: the first includes Kubaj, Qarmousha, and Wokri falcons, while the second includes Taba’ and Jebiliya (Shaheen) falcons.
Commenting on the festival’s commitment to passing this heritage on to future generations, Chairman of the Committees and Official Spokesman for the Marmi Festival, Mohammed Mubarak al-Ali told to QNA that the festival is keen to promote and entrench this popular heritage in the consciousness of young people. He noted that in its early stages, the festival featured two competitions for children: the educational Young Falconer competition, which focused on knowledge-based competition about falcons, and the Promising Falconer competition.
He added that, after the festival’s legacy has grown over the years and with the festival reaching its 17th edition this year, organisers decided to shift children toward practical application in the Promising Falconer Championship, as the Young Falconer competition had fulfilled its role in introducing children to this heritage. “Today, they are practising falconry in reality, which confirms that the festival has successfully transferred this heritage across generations throughout its history,” he said.
The official spokesman also pointed out that children who once participated in these competitions have now become youths and men and have moved on to professional-level competitions such as Al Tala’a, Da’w, and Haddad Al Tahadi championships, underscoring the festival’s success in achieving its objectives of preserving Qatar’s popular heritage.
For his part, Saad Ali al-Muhannadi, a falconry heritage expert and member of the Promising Falconer Committee at the Marmi Festival, said in similar remarks to QNA that falconry represents one of the most prominent authentic Qatari heritages passed down from fathers and grandfathers to sons generation after generation. He stressed that preserving this heritage and transmitting it to new generations is a shared responsibility and a national duty.
He explained that falconry is not merely a hobby or a traditional practice, but rather a system of human and educational values that contributes to the sound upbringing of children by instilling discernment, alertness, discipline, and a sense of responsibility from an early age.
Al-Muhannadi added that practising falconry helps children make constructive use of their time and keeps them away from excessive use of electronic devices and digital games. He noted that falconry is a physical activity that enhances fitness and develops self-reliance and daily commitment, whether in training or in caring for the falcon.
He further pointed out that the Promising Falconer Committee is keen to instil the principle of balance between practising the hobby and academic achievement, emphasising that education remains the top priority, while falconry serves as a positive way to fill leisure time in a manner that benefits children and strengthens their connection to their heritage and national identity.
In turn, Nasser Rashid al-Nuaimi, a member of the Promising Falconer Committee at the Marmi Festival, said in a statement to QNA that falconry is one of the most important pillars of Qatari heritage that has distinguished society throughout its history. He noted that passing this legacy on to new generations contributes to preserving cultural identity and strengthening the sense of belonging among children and youth.
He explained that the Marmi Festival, through the Promising Falconer competitions and accompanying activities, plays a pivotal role in introducing young people to the fundamentals of falconry and the proper ways of handling and caring for falcons, ensuring that knowledge and expertise are transferred in a correct and organised manner.
Al-Nuaimi added that practising falconry has a positive impact on a child’s character, as it nurtures wisdom, patience, and calmness, in addition to developing mental and physical abilities. He emphasised that this hobby helps direct young people’s energies toward beneficial activities and instils in them a love of learning, exploration, and research, opening broader horizons of knowledge.
He also praised the role played by the State of Qatar in supporting this sector, noting that falconry-related events and competitions witness remarkable development year after year in terms of organisation and participation, contributing to safeguarding this heritage and ensuring its continuity for future generations. – QNA