The second Katara International Hunting & Falcons Exhibition – S’hail 2018 received more than 116,400 visitors since its launch on September 4, the organising committee said at the conclusion of the event Saturday.
On the final day, prizes were distributed to the winners of different competitions held as part of the exhibition.
The exhibition, held at Katara – the Cultural Village across a 10,000sq m space, witnessed the participation of more than 150 international and local companies specialising in weaponry and hunting equipment from some 20 countries around the world. This year’s edition also had more participants displaying a greater variety of specialised items related to the theme of the exhibition.
Besides members of the public, the event drew the attention of many dignitaries and diplomats - whose daily visits were among the highlights of the exhibition - as well as international artists.
Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti, general manager of Katara and chairman of the organising committee of S’hail, expressed gratitude to the participants and partners who had joined hands to make the exhibition a world-class event and evoke huge interest among the public.
Dr al-Sulaiti stressed that the S’hail exhibition “reflected the deep commitment of Qatar to introducing its heritage and culture to the world, as the exhibition was a precious opportunity to do so in the best possible manner”.
Meanwhile, the award for Best Pavilion at the exhibition went to the Toyota team, who received a prize of QR30,000.
Also, prizes worth $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000 were awarded to the first, second and third winners, respectively, in the Most Beautiful Hood category.
In addition to the availability of a wide range of hunting gear and other falconry-related items, the organising committee had taken steps to give the exhibition an artistic touch as well, by inviting a large group of artists to participate in a workshop-like gathering. The artists came up with exquisite works of art based on the theme of the event.
Also, a number of craftsmen were present at the exhibition to stitch – in front of visitors - falcon hoods and hunting-related products made of leather and other materials.
The exhibition offered lectures on falconry and breeding falcons, delivered by experts in the field, in addition to awareness lectures on safe hunting trips and overland safaris. It is the first exhibition of its kind in Qatar and the region in terms of size, diversity and quality, dedicated to the needs and requirements of falconers.
The auction at S’hail 2018 featured the finest falcons from Qatar and other countries, while food items on offer at the eateries with dedicated kitchens included the meat of birds, deer and rabbit procured from fresh hunts and prepared by top chefs.
