by Azmat Haroon
Contrary to popular belief that Arabs do not love dogs, many in the Gulf region, including Qatar, have long bred Saluki dogs, also known as the Persian greyhounds.
The tradition is a central part of the ancient Bedouin culture, where nomads kept and trained animals for travelling in the desert. Salukis as well as hawks are two of the popular animals among them.
Many in the Gulf mark this tradition by participating in the Saluki dog races every year. The hobby is growing in the Arab world – especially in the GCC, where many championships are organised throughout the year.
The Arabic Hudad Al Saluki Championship organised by the Al Ghannas Association here is open to Qatari citizens as well as expatriates.
The championship concluded last week.
“This race is part of the authentic Arab culture that we have inherited. The greyhounds were an important part of the lives of the Arabs as they helped our ancestors live in the desert. We have to protect this tradition,” Mansour Al Nuaimi, head of the contest, said.
The championship is organised every year in the same season followed by other competitions like Qatar International Falcon and Hunting Festival. The season of Saluki ends in April with the international championship for Hudad Al Saluki.
Al Nuaimi also encouraged youngsters in Qatar to maintain their hobby of keeping greyhounds while speaking at the award ceremony held at the Sealine Beach Resort.
This year, the Saluki owned by Hamad Al Majid Al Saad was declared the first place winner.
The second award went to the Saluki owned by Nasser Yousef Fakhro while Ali Hassan’s Al Saai’s Saluki bagged the third place.
“I felt tensed throughout the competition, but I was optimistic. I have been through this thrilling experience many times,” Majid Al Saad said, who frequently participates in the Saluki dog races in the Gulf and has previously won first place in the 20120 hawk hunting festival.
Speaking about his love for dogs since childhood, he said that Salukis are characterised by their speed.
“I began keeping Salukis from a very early age. The one that won the race this year was from Syria, who are characterized by strength and speed- especially in long-distance runs. This was the first time that this dog participated in a race but he won,” Majid Al Saad said.
The participating Saluki at the competition is usually of Arab origin, and Al Ghannas Association has set up a committee to differentiate non-Arab saluki from the Arab one.
The second place winner Yousef Fakhro, meanwhile, said that he developed interest in Salukis recently. “My friends urged me to get a Syrian origin Saluki,” he said.
Many people especially came to Qatar to attend the race from neighbouring countries, especially United Arab Emirates (UAE), where such races are also very popular. While the races in Qatar are only for dog owners in Qatar, UAE championships are open to an international audience.
“I hope there is coordination between the Gulf States when organising such championships in the future so that so that they are held on a large scale,” Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who came from UAE for the race, said.
The Peninsula
