DOHA: Drawing the largest crowd in its history, the Katara International Hunting & Falcons Exhibition (S'hail 2024) wrapped up its eighth edition on Saturday, following five vibrant days of continuous activities.
S'hail has further cemented its status as a global and regional leader, recognized as one of the most significant events in the hunting and falconry sectors worldwide.
This year's edition saw participation from 19 countries spanning various continents, including Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Lebanon, Pakistan, Germany, the United Kingdom, China, Spain, France, the United States, Portugal, Belgium, Russia, Australia, South Africa, Lithuania, and Poland.
The exhibition hosted 171 companies, including both regional and international leaders in the hunting, falconry, and outdoor adventure industries. Many companies were exhibiting for the first time, especially those from China, Poland, and Australia, showcasing the latest in hunting equipment, falconry gear, and outdoor expedition supplies.
In addition to the wide array of international exhibitors, the exhibition featured several prominent Qatari ministries and institutions, including the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Municipality, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, and the Ministry of Communications. Each organization set up impressive booths, offering services and information tailored to the event's visitors. Major sponsors of S'hail 2024 included the Social and Sports Activities Support Fund (Daam), Qatar Insurance Group (the official insurance sponsor), and Al Kass Sports Channels (the event's media partner).
Expressing his pride in the success of the event, Salem Mubkhout Al Marri, Director of Public Relations and Communications at Katara, said, "S'hail 2024 witnessed an extraordinary turnout that truly reflects the widespread local and international interest in this distinguished event. This overwhelming enthusiasm further solidifies S'hail's standing as one of the most significant exhibitions in this field."
Al Marri also praised the extensive media coverage that S'hail received, noting, "The media played a pivotal role in spotlighting the diverse activities of the exhibition, which greatly contributed to raising awareness of its offerings. Social media influencers also played an integral part in this success, as many of them actively shared the exhibition's highlights across their platforms, significantly boosting attendance and engagement."
He also highlighted the diverse range of participating companies, stating that this variety enriched the experience for visitors by providing them with numerous innovative options in the world of hunting and falconry.
One of the major highlights of S'hail 2024 was the introduction of several exciting competitions. Notably, there was a daily raffle for ten falcons, held over three days, aimed at engaging younger participants aged 10 to 16. This initiative was designed to inspire the next generation to embrace the rich tradition of falconry. Another key attraction was the "Best Falcon Hood" competition, which saw a craftsman from the UAE take first place, securing a prize of $3,000. Second place went to Al-Hurr Trading for Bird Accessories from Qatar, which won $2,000, while third place was awarded to Al-Sheail for Bird Supplies from Kuwait, who took home $1,000.
In the competition for "Best Booth Design," "Peninsula Sculptors" earned the top prize of QR15,000, while "Desert Engine" claimed victory in the "Best Garage Exhibit" category, also winning QR15,000. These competitions relied on both public votes and expert evaluations by a judging panel, which assessed the entries based on artistic and aesthetic criteria.
