The annual 'S'hail - Katara International Hunting and Falcons Exhibition' has continued to attract thousands of local and foreign visitors, making Qatar "a buyer's market" for falcons, according to a Qatari entrepreneur.
According to Farhan al-Sayed, the president of the Qatar-Indonesia Business Council, Qatar is well-known worldwide for breeding some of the best pedigree of falcons, and that "every exhibition of S'Hail is always an opportunity to showcase this."
He said the falcon exhibition, which was launched in 2017, not only showcases different breeds of falcons but also offers visitors the opportunity to experience Qatar's longtime love for some of nature's birds of prey.
Similarly, al-Sayed said the exhibition is a suitable platform to educate expatriates about falconry and its role in Qatar's history.
"Falconry is part of Qatari tradition and culture. And I believe that among Arab countries, Qatar is densely populated in terms of households owning falcons," al-Sayed told Gulf Times.


Some of the falcons on display at 'S'hail 2019'. PICTURE: Jayan Orma

He noted that since falconry is a valuable cultural trait among Qataris, the country has its own world-class and state-of-the-art falcon hospital in Souq Waqif.
"If humans need an MRI scan, for example, or for quality healthcare services, Qatar also provides the same for its falcons. This only goes to show the significance of the falcon in the lives of Qataris," he pointed out.
"Considering that Qataris breed some of the best falcons, this attracts many foreigners to Qatar, and this is evident during the staging of S'Hail at Katara.
"Many local falcon farms come to the exhibition to showcase their breeds. The large number of foreign falcon aficionados coming to S'Hail makes Qatar a buyer's market for falcons," al-Sayed continued.
According to Katara, the participation of Qatari falcon farms in the third installment of S'Hail reflects growth in the number of farms operating in the country. The exhibition, which concludes Saturday, is also a venue for these farms to display and offer their services.
'S'hail 2019' has attracted 140 different exhibitors, who have been benefiting from the large footfall of visitors by meeting the needs of hunting and falcon enthusiasts, according to Ali Mohamed al-Kuwari, a member of S'hail's Organising Committee.
The exhibition's specialised section has been very busy since day one of the event, particularly during the daily auction, which is held from 1pm to 5pm.
Katara also said S'Hail has emerged as "one of the largest of its kind in the world and brings with it a wide range of companies and manufacturers under one roof."
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