A falconer with his falcon.
Doha, Qatar: The organising committee of the 17th Marmi International Falconry and Hunting Festival (Marmi 2026) resumes the Al-Talaa and Haddad Al-Tahadi Championships today (Monday) after a forced suspension yesterday due to weather conditions.
The festival is held under the patronage of H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani and is supported by the Social and Sports Activities Support Fund “Daam” at the Marmi Sabkha in Sealine. It will continue until the 24th of this month.
The organising committee began the Al-Talaa Championship for Groups 11 through 15 yesterday morning under clear visibility and moderate wind speeds, with the qualifying rounds for Group 11 taking place.
The competition resulted in the qualification of falconer Ali Hussein Ali Yousef Al-Saai. Due to the increasing wind speed, the committee decided to postpone the qualifying rounds for groups 12-15, rescheduling them for Thursday, January 8.
The organising committee of the Marmi Festival 2026 also decided to postpone the third group’s competitions in the Haddad Al-Tahadi Championship due to weather conditions.
Head of Committees and official spokesperson for the Marmi Festival Mohammed bin Mubarak Al-Ali stated that the postponement decision came after careful monitoring of the weather conditions at the competition grounds. He confirmed that the festival management decided to temporarily suspend the Al-Talaa Championship on yesterday due to the increased wind speeds after the eleventh group’s competitions concluded in ideal conditions and clear visibility.
He noted that the committee also decided to postpone the third group’s competitions in the Haddad Al-Tahadi Championship for the same reason, as the strong winds are unsuitable for falconry competitions. These competitions are now scheduled for Friday morning, January 9.
The official spokesperson for the Marmi Festival emphasised that the safety of participants is their top priority, along with ensuring a level playing field for all competitors.
This guarantees fair and favorable conditions for everyone, whether in the Al-Talaa Championship or the Haddad Al-Tahadi Championship.
The spokesperson noted that the organising committee is committed to holding the championships according to the highest standards of organization and safety, reflecting the prestigious position of the Marmi Festival as one of the most prominent heritage festivals specialising in falconry and hunting in the region. Al-Ali confirmed the resumption of the festival’s championships today, Monday. The Al-Talaa Championship qualifiers for groups 16 through 20 will take place in the morning, while the Haddad Al-Tahadi Championship for group 4 will resume in the evening, according to the festival schedule.
He stressed that the committee is continuously monitoring weather conditions and making decisions that serve the best interests of the participants and maintain the competitive and professional standards of the championships. He commended the competitors for their understanding and cooperation with the committee’s decisions.
