Sheikh Joaan Awards Champions at Qatar Falcons Festival 2026

In a vibrant ceremony held on March 25, 2026, Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani crowned the winners of the 17th edition of the Qatar International Falcons and Hunting Festival, known as Marmi 2026. The event took place at the festival venue in Sabkhat Marmi, Sealine, after the conclusion of various field competitions, including the prestigious Haded Al-Tahaddi Championship, which featured 27 qualified participants.

The ceremony began with Sheikh Joaan honoring Yousuf Mohammed Al Nuaimi, Director of the Shared Services Department at the Social and Sports Activities Support Fund (Daam). He then presented the grand prizes to the winners of the Haded Al-Tahaddi final. Mohammed Ahmed Al Harbi from the UAE and Nasser Saeed Al Marri from Qatar both received a Lexus vehicle as part of their awards.

Additionally, Mohammed Jarrallah Al Nabet and Team Al Shamsi from the UAE were awarded cash prizes of QAR 100,000 each, matching their earnings from the qualifying rounds.

Local and International Champions Recognized

In the Tal’a Championship, Ali Hassan Al Saei secured the first place, earning a cash prize of QAR 300,000. However, the second and third places were not awarded due to unsuccessful hunts. Sheikh Joaan also recognized winners across seven categories in the Local Da’w Championship. In the “Free Farakh” category, Khalifa Mohammed Al Henzab claimed first place, with Team Laffan and Sultan Hamad Al Humaidi taking the subsequent spots.

The “Qarnass Jir” category saw Hamad Abdullah Al Arjani finishing first, followed by Team Al Sheehaniya and Team Al Zam. Additionally, in the “Free Qarnass” category, Team Al Sheehaniya took first and third places, while Hamad Abdulhadi bin Naifa finished second.

Each first-place winner in the Local Da’w categories received QAR 200,000, while second and third place winners received QAR 100,000 and QAR 50,000, respectively.

In the International Da’w Championship, Sheikh Joaan awarded the top three winners across four categories. In the ‘Free’ category, Suhail Saeed Al Kindi took first place, followed by Khaled bin Tuaiss Al Qahtani and Barghash bin Mohammed Al Mansouri. Suhail also dominated the International Da’w Jir and Qarmousha category by winning all three top positions.

Celebrating Cultural Heritage and Future Generations

The winners of the Elite Da’w Round were recognized, with Team Al Zam taking first place, and the top three winners receiving cash prizes of QAR 300,000, QAR 200,000, and QAR 100,000, respectively. In the Promising Falconer Championship, the top five winners were also honored, receiving varying cash prizes based on their ranks.

The ceremony highlighted the success of the festival, with Muteb bin Mubarak Al Qahtani, Chairman of the Festival, praising Sheikh Joaan for his unwavering support of falconry heritage. He noted that this year’s festival surpassed previous editions in terms of organization and participation.

Deputy Director of the Festival, Abdulwahab bin Omair Al Nuaimi, echoed these sentiments, expressing gratitude to Sheikh Joaan for his patronage. Yousuf Mohammed Al Nuaimi emphasized the festival’s role in preserving Qatari heritage and contributing to Qatar National Vision 2030.

Award-winning competitors commended the festival’s atmosphere and the efforts to embed this authentic heritage within society. The concluding event of the festival, the Mazayin Championship, is set to take place on March 26, 2026, at Katara Cultural Village, featuring rare falcons and high standards of competition.

Participants have stated that the Mazayin Championship is the pinnacle of the Marmi Festival, requiring meticulous preparation focused on the aesthetic qualities of the falcons. Competitors emphasized the efforts involved in presenting their birds, which include significant care and investment.

The Marmi Festival stands as a testament to the rich tradition of falconry in Qatar, reflecting the deep-rooted cultural heritage that continues to thrive in modern society.