Doha: Falcons perched only metres from tracking technologies, modern
hunting equipment, and off-road vehicles at S'hail 2026 offer a picture of how
a centuries-old tradition is being passed to younger generations while
developing into an increasingly specialised international industry.
The
10th Katara International Hunting and Falconry Exhibition (S'hail), which
opened on September 8 and runs until September 12, brings together 158 entities
and companies from 15 countries, displaying falcons alongside hunting and
outdoor equipment, technology, and traditional handicrafts. Participants this
year come from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Poland, France, Türkiye,
Lebanon, the UK, Pakistan, South Africa, Portugal, Lithuania, Spain, and
Russia.
Five
main sections cover hunting equipment, falcon sales, off-road vehicle
outfitting, restaurants and cafés, and regulated hunting weapons, alongside
exhibitors specialising in outdoor equipment, veterinary services, nature
reserves, animal breeding, and handicrafts. Modern technology is increasingly
visible within the tradition, with tracking devices, microchips, and
identification documents facilitating registration and movement, while
veterinary services and specialised breeding have become part of the modern
falconry industry.
The programme also includes a falcon auction and competitions for the best falcon hood, participating pavilion, garage, and poetry about falcons, while artists create works inspired by hunting and desert life. New facilities introduced this year allow visitors to complete procedures related to licences for purchasing hunting weapons, replacing old weapons, and obtaining ammunition in cooperation with relevant authorities.
