Thousands attend as PM opens S’hail 2018

DOHA: Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani opened the second edition of Katara International Hunting and Falcons Exhibition (S’hail 2018) yesterday at Katara Wisdom Square.

The Prime Minister and Interior Minister accompanied by Katara General Manager Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti and other Katara senior officials toured the exhibition area including a section showcasing a wide selection of light arms, hunting weapons and accessories as well as various booths displaying a huge number of falcons, falconry equipment and handicraft. Other dignitaries present included H E Sheikh Hamad bin Nasser Al Thani, Minister of State; Lieutenant General H E Hamad bin Ali Al Attiya, Advisor to the Amir for Defence Affairs; Former Minister of Justice, Hassan bin Abdallah Al Ghanim; and Saoud bin Nasser Al Thani, CEO, Ooredoo.

Al Sulaiti, who is also Head of S’hail Organising Committee, said that the huge turnout at the exhibition opening showed how the exhibition had become a prominent event of its kind in the region.

“It is the largest and most prominent exhibition in the field of hunting and falconry for the variety of products and services it provides in this field,” he said, adding visitors would see how the huge development of the exhibition in terms of its size and the number of participating companies.

Heads of diplomatic missions were also among those in attendance including Turkish Ambassador Fikret Ozer, Kyrgyzstan Ambassador Nuran S Niyazaliev, and Lebanese Ambassador Hassan Najem who expressed their appreciation at the variety of items and attractions at the five-day event.

Thousands of falconry and hunting enthusiasts thronged the launch of S’hail to see and buy the various falconry and hunting items on offer at 150 stalls coming from 20 countries which include Morocco, Spain, Qatar, Germany, Kuwait, China, Oman, Italy, USA, the UK, Portugal, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, Germany, Kazakhstan, Sweden, Iran, the Netherlands and Uzbekistan.

One of the organisations with a significant presence at the event is Al Gannas Society which has a large pavilion where local falconers and hunters gather to discuss issues on hunting and falconry. Lauding S’hail 2018 which saw considerable expansion in exhibition area and participation, Ali Al Mehshadi, president of Al Gannas Society expressed optimism it will have huge impact on the local and international hunting enthusiasts visiting the exhibition.

Spread on a 10,000sqm area, the exhibition comprises several sections including hunting weaponry, falcon sales and falconry, hunting equipment, vehicles and eateries. It also features handicraft pavilions displaying hunting and falconry accessories and paintings of falcons by various artists.

Among the activities at the exhibition are daily auctions of falcons including new breeds and lectures on falconry and falcon breeding and awareness lectures on safe hunting trips and overland safaris. One of the highlights of the event is competitions on best pavilion and best falcon hood with a total of QR30,0000 in prizes up for grabs.

By Raynald C Rivera I The Peninsula

رئيس مجلس الوزراء يفتتح معرض كتارا الدولي للصيد والصقور «سهيل 2018»

افتتح معالي الشيخ عبدالله بن ناصر بن خليفة آل ثاني رئيس مجلس الوزراء وزير الداخلية، صباح أمس، معرض كتارا الدولي للصيد والصقور «سهيل»، الذي تنظمه المؤسسة العامة للحي الثقافي «كتارا» في نسخته الثانية، خلال الفترة 4-8 سبتمبر الحالي.

وخلال الزيارة، تجول معالي رئيس مجلس الوزراء وزير الداخلية، في المعرض، حيث زار الركن الخاص بالأسلحة، واطلع على مجموعة من الأسلحة الخفيفة، والذخائر وأسلحة الصيد ومرفقاتها من مناظير، وغيرها من مستلزمات الرماية، كما زار القسم الخاص بالطيور ورياضة القنص ومستلزماتها.

حضر الافتتاح عدد من أصحاب السعادة الشيوخ والوزراء والسفراء ومسؤولون بالمؤسسة العامة للحي الثقافي «كتارا»، بالإضافة إلى ممثلي عدد من الشركات والمؤسسات المحلية والعربية والدولية، وجمهور من هواة الصيد بالصقور والمهتمين بثقافته.;