(MENAFN - The Peninsula) The Peninsula

DOHA: The ninth Qatar International Falcons and Hunting Festival, which runs until January 27 at Sabkat Marmi in Sealine, continues to attract a large number of Arab and foreign tourists, who are eager to learn more about the various festival competitions.

One of the popular competitions is the Al-Da'u Championship which aims to measure the speed of falcons across a given 400-metre flight path. The Al-Tal' Championship and the Hadad Al Tahadi Championship, on the other hand, test the hunting skills of juvenile peregrine falcons.

The contests have garnered unprecedented attention, with the events being covered by experienced commentators. They are being streamed live on giant screens for the public to follow the exciting stages of the competitions.

Also ongoing is the thrilling Hadad Al-Saluqi Championship dedicated to the pure Arabian saluki breeds (non-crossbred). The hounds follow a vehicle with a dangling deer 'gazelle in a 2km race to determine the winner.

A traditional Arabic majlis showcasing true Qatari hospitality has been set up at the festival. The organizing committee also provides visitors traditional food, free lunch, ATM machines, tourist shops and fishing accessories, in addition to a museum of Souq Waqif Falcons Hospital.

All the competitions are open to public viewing. To facilitate access to the venue of the festival, signages have been placed along the road from Doha through Al Wakrah and Mesaieed to Sabkhat Marmi. Roads have been paved and paths cleared for easier access during the tournament.

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