Doha, September 12 (QNA) - The State of Qatar has made substantial contributions to protecting and preserving falconry heritage at both the domestic and international levels through foremost efforts.

These efforts culminated in UNESCO's approval, in November 2010, of the inscription of falconry as a living human heritage on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, in collaboration with 11 Arab and foreign nations.

These prominent efforts have been an outgrowth of Qatar's sustained work to preserve this heritage, including the staging of the Katara International Hunting and Falconry Exhibition (S'hail 2026), which follows a decade of success in showcasing heritage at its finest. The exhibition is marking this milestone under the mantra of "A Decade of Passion and Heritage".

S'hail 2026 brings together 158 professional exhibitors from 15 Arab and foreign nations, showcasing products and solutions for hunting treks, camping equipment, hunting weapons and vehicle outfitting for navigating rugged terrain.

Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Qatar Society of Al Gannas, Ali bin Khatam Al Mahshadi, told Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the society is taking part in the exhibition owing to its cultural position as an entity specializing in hunting sports and falconry, as well as falconers' affairs.

 He added that the society holds wide-ranging events in these fields and represents hunters in regional and global contests.

Al Mahshadi contended that the exhibition is not merely a market for displaying such gear and products, but rather a genuine opportunity for emerging generations to gain a glimpse of a consequential aspect of the heritage bequeathed by their forebears.

Hunting and falconry have always been closely tethered to conventional hunting practices, as well as enduring mores passed down through generations, he highlighted, stating that Qatar has long regarded these falconry traditions as time-honored heritage inherited from one generation to the next.

Al Mahshadi elaborated on these traditions by affirming that the society is currently giving these timeless forms of heritage overriding priority by engaging young people in tournaments and contests, coupled with visits to public and private schools by members of the society to introduce younger generations to the heritage of their forebears.

He pointed out that the Katara-based society has been welcoming school delegations as part of these efforts.

Al Mahshadi said the society has devoted particular attention to this heritage by establishing the Qatari Falconry Archive to document the history of hunting and falconry, as well as the history of veteran falconers in Qatar.

The archive collects books, documents, manuscripts, photographs, and written, audio and visual materials, while also documenting the oral history associated with this Qatari heritage, which forms part of the world's cultural heritage, Al Mahshadi noted, thereby making these resources available to researchers and academics.

He explained that the society's achievements since its establishment in 2008 have been wide-ranging and that it has documented them in its booth through a chronological account under the theme, "18 Years: A Qatari Journey Embodying a Nation's Identity and Bringing the Authenticity of Heritage to the World".

This booth also introduces the public to society's achievements in the educational, scientific, medical and veterinary fields, he said.

Al Mahshadi added that S'hail 2026 offers the public an opportunity to see some of the world's rarest falcons, outlining that the booth is showcasing two notable falcons. The first, named Nomas, is 29 years old, while the second, Katara, is less than a year old.

  Intriguingly, the society documented Katara's hatching this year in one of Doha's high-rise buildings in a rare and unique occurrence, Al Mahshadi said.

Al Mahshadi further emphasized that the society had achieved an unprecedented feat in the field of falcon genomics. Recalling that in 2021, the society's Qatar Falcon Genome Project analyzed the genetic maps of the main falcon species and developed a highly accurate genetic test, he said it was the first project of its kind to identify falcon lineages and detect the degree of hybridization among captive-bred falcons.

This scientific discovery is expected to further cement Qatar's leading position worldwide in the conservation and preservation of falconry, an enduring part of the world's human heritage, Al Mahshadi underlined.

Al Mahshadi noted that the society has organized an international conference on falcon veterinary medicine and offered veterinary and falcon-care training courses for falconers from several East Asian countries, with the society's support. The courses are held at Souq Waqif Falcon Hospital.

In addition, the society has undertaken other projects aimed at preserving falcons in the wild, including an initiative to return falcons to nature in an effort to preserve biodiversity and protect the environment, Al Mahshadi said.

Al Mahshadi said the society has played a significant role in monitoring falcon migration by supporting a falcon-tracking device through the World Ethnosport Union in 2017.

Among the society's achievements was the election of the chairman of the society's Board of Directors to the Board of Directors of the World Ethnosport Union in 2022, Al Mahshadi recalled, stating that the society's team also won the title at the inaugural International Federation for Falconry Sports & Racing Cup.

  The society was also named the world's best traditional sports organization by the World Ethnosport Union, Al Mahshadi said, adding that in 2024, the society joined the International Federation for Falconry Sports & Racing (IFFSR).

It then secured third place in the third edition of the International Federation for Falconry Sports & Racing Cup in the Masters rounds in 2026 and won the World Champion title in the Gyr falcon chick category, setting a new world record in the same category with a time of 17.085 seconds, Al Mahshadi elaborated.

In essence, S'hail 2026 is set to bring the curtain down on Saturday evening by announcing its awards and revealing the results of the highly anticipated falcon auction. (QNA)