Venue
Sealine area, near Mesaieed, Al Wakrah, Qatar
Marmi Festival: Qatar International Falcons and Hunting Festival guide
Falcons and salukis on Sabkhat Marmi.
In short
Travellers interested in Gulf falconry can head to the Sealine area south of Doha for Marmi, expected around 1 to 24 January 2027 following the 2026 pattern. Dates are usually announced only late in December. Start with Hadd Al Tahaddi, the opening championship, and allow time for saluki races, with transport arranged since the site is out on the salt flats.
Out on the salt flats of Sabkhat Marmi, in the Sealine area south of Doha, falconers from across the Gulf spend most of January competing for cash and cars at Marmi, the Qatar International Falcons and Hunting Festival. Visitors can watch the birds fly and see saluki races. The 18th edition is expected around 1 to 24 January 2027.
Those dates simply follow the 2026 pattern. The organisers announced the 2026 festival only a few days before it opened, so the 2027 schedule will probably appear in late December.
Start with Hadd Al Tahaddi, the opening championship, in which young shaheen falcons chase down a released homing pigeon. It is fast, over in moments, and the clearest demonstration of why Gulf falconers prize these birds.
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Key Facts & Stats:
Ends: Sunday, 24 January 2027
Where: Al Wakrah, Qatar
Venue: Sabkhat Marmi
Held: Every year
Type of event: Sporting Events, Cultural Events, Folk Festival
Currency: Qatari riyal (QAR, QR)
Time zone: Arabia Standard Time, UTC+3
Language: Arabic
Map
Close to the venue
- Sealine Beach, Mesaieed Attraction · 8.7 km
Getting around
Hotels near the venue fill up around the event dates.
Winter dates and the 2026 edition
Marmi belongs to the winter, when the desert is cool enough for both falcons and spectators. The 17th edition ran from 1 to 24 January 2026, and 2027 should follow a similar three-to-four-week window in January.
The big finals cluster in the second half of the month. Qatar Tourism listings and the Doha papers carry the confirmed programme once it is out.
The 2026 competitions and prizes
The 2026 programme is the best guide to what comes next:
- Hadd Al Tahaddi
- group winners in 2026 took home QAR 100,000 and a place in a final where the prize was a Lexus.
- Tal'a
- falcons are released to find and catch a houbara bustard set down about 2 km away.
- Da'w
- speed trials over 400 m to a lure, with local rounds and an international final.
- Saluki races
- lean Arabian hunting dogs racing over the sand. Qualifiers run early in the month and the final in mid-January.
- Young falconers
- a 200 m speed contest for children aged 6 to 15.
- Mazayin
- the falcon beauty contest, which closes the festival.
The Al Gannas society and the festival's history
Falconry began as a practical way of hunting in the Arabian desert. Today it is a heritage sport with real prestige, often handed down from father to son.
Marmi is run by the Al Gannas Qatari Society under the patronage of Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, with backing from the Daam fund for social and sports activities. The society's stated aim is to keep the customs and values of falconry alive, and the festival has become one of the main dates in Qatar's winter heritage season.
Driving to Sealine near Mesaieed
Sealine is near Mesaieed, about 40 km south of Doha in Al Wakrah municipality, where the dunes begin their run toward Khor Al Adaid. No public transport reaches the festival site. Drive, take a taxi or join a tour. From Hamad International Airport it is roughly 45 minutes by road.
Hire a four-wheel drive only if you mean to head into the dunes afterwards.
Evening finals and cold desert nights
- Many finals are held in the evening, so check the day's schedule before setting out.
- January nights in the desert are cold. Pack warm layers and closed shoes for the sand.
- Dress modestly, and ask before photographing falconers or their birds.
- The coast is close by. Our round-up of Qatar's best beaches includes Sealine.
What happens on the day
- Early January
Saluki qualifiers
The saluki races open the programme, with their final in mid-January.
- Through the month
Falcon contests
Hadd Al Tahaddi (young shaheen falcons against a released homing pigeon), Tal'a (hunting a houbara set out some 2 km away) and the 400 m Da'w speed trials, plus a 200 m contest for young falconers aged 6 to 15.
- Evenings
Finals
Many finals are held in the evening; check the daily schedule.
- Second half of January
Main finals
The biggest finals.
- Closing
Mazayin
The falcon beauty contest closes the festival.
Etiquette and dress
Dress
Modest dress is expected.
Photography
Ask falconers before photographing them or their birds.
Checking for the 2027 dates in December
Dates for 2027 had not been published at the time of writing and are normally announced in December, so check Qatar Tourism listings or local news late that month before you commit.
Our Al Wakrah guide covers more of the area.
Falconry as a heritage sport in Qatar
Once a practical hunting method in the Arabian desert, falconry has become a valued heritage sport that families often pass from father to son. The Al Gannas Qatari Society organises Marmi, with Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani as patron, and its declared aim is to keep falconry's customs and values alive.
Contests include Hadd Al Tahaddi, which pits young shaheen falcons against a released homing pigeon, Tal'a, in which falcons hunt a houbara bustard set out some 2 km off, and Da'w speed trials over 400 m. There is also a 200 m speed contest for young falconers aged 6 to 15.
Getting there
Flying in
Hamad International Airport is about 45 minutes by road. See Dhaka to Doha and Bangkok to Doha flights.
To the site
There is no public transport. Drive, or arrange a taxi or tour; a four-wheel drive helps if you want to explore the dunes afterwards.
Timing
Plan any dune drive in daylight.
Where to stay during the festival
Most visitors stay in Doha and drive south for the afternoon and evening sessions.
Desert nights in January are cold, so plan the drive back before you set out.
Doha
Mandarin Oriental, Doha5-star hotel
No reviews yet
from$307.00/ night
- Internet – Wifi
- Airport shuttle
- Swimming pool
3 Rooms available
Book Now
Doha
Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels by Tivoli5-star hotel
No reviews yet
from$69.00/ night
- Free WiFi
- Airport shuttle
- Swimming pool
10 Rooms available
Book Now
Doha
Alwadi Hotel Doha - MGallery5-star hotel
No reviews yet
from$125.00/ night
- Free WiFi
- Airport shuttle
- Swimming pool
6 Rooms available
Book Now
Weather and what to pack
January is Qatar's coolest month. Doha averages a high of 22.6°C and a low of 14.8°C, with about 11 mm of rain in the month (Qatar Meteorological Department, 1992-2021). The open desert at Sealine is colder after dark.
Bring warm layers for evening finals.
Worth packing
- Warm layers for desert evenings
- Closed shoes suitable for sand
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- Modest clothing
Car hire in Al Wakrah
Airport transfer to Marmi Festival: Qatar International Falcons and Hunting Festival
Met at arrivals at Hamad International Airport (DOH) and driven door to door to Sabkhat Marmi.
- Hamad International Airport (DOH) → Sabkhat Marmi
- 60 km · 1 hr 30 min
Restaurants and food in Qatar
Places to eat in Qatar before or after the celebrations.
Argan
Al Jasra Boutique Hotel, Al Jasra Street, Souq Waqif, Doha, Qatar
Cuisine:MoroccanNorth African
- Dine-in
Bayt Sharq
Al Doha Gardens, Al Sharq Street, Doha, Qatar
Cuisine:QatariMiddle Eastern
- Dine-in
- Outdoor seating
- Private room
Jiwan
4th Floor, National Museum of Qatar, Museum Park Street, Doha, Qatar
Cuisine:QatariMiddle Eastern
- Dine-in
- Outdoor seating
IDAM by Alain Ducasse
5th Floor, Museum of Islamic Art, Corniche Promenade, Doha, Qatar
Cuisine:Contemporary FrenchMediterranean
- Dine-in
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Need help?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
General
Entry for spectators has generally been free. There is no ticket booking. Check closer to the date in case anything changes for the 2027 edition.
The festival is organised by the Al Gannas Qatari Society, which promotes falconry and hunting traditions in Qatar. It runs each winter at Sabkhat Marmi. The prize pool draws falconers from across the Gulf.
Mazayin is the beauty contest for falcons, judged on features such as colour, size and shape. It is a calmer contrast to the speed events, and the schedule for each championship is published by Al Gannas before the festival.
Only if a falconer offers. Competition birds are valuable and easily stressed. Some stands may offer supervised photos with a falcon, but don't approach birds without asking.
Falconry was a way to hunt for food in the desert and has long been part of Bedouin life. It is now a prized sport. Falconry is on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage, with Qatar among the countries that nominated it.
Salukis are slender hunting dogs bred in the region for centuries. At Marmi they race over a set course on the sand, which was 2 km long in 2025. The saluki championship runs during the festival alongside the falcon events, so check the daily schedule.
Yes. Sealine is a base for dune drives and visits to Khor Al Adaid, the Inland Sea. Book a licensed tour operator, and do not drive into the dunes yourself. Do it in daylight before the evening finals.
Families & accessibility
Yes, families visit. Children usually enjoy the falcons and saluki races, but keep them close to the viewing areas. The 2025 edition included a championship for young falconers aged 6 to 15, which is fun to watch.
The site is on open salt flats and sand, so access is difficult. Some seating may be on firmer ground. Ask the organisers before you go.
Booking
There are usually basic refreshments such as tea and coffee on site, but options are limited. Bring water and snacks. Wakrah and Mesaieed have restaurants on the way back.
Timing & weather
A few hours is enough to see several events. Many finals happen in the evening, so plan to arrive in the afternoon. Allow time for the drive back to Doha.
