Qatari Falconry

Falconry in the Gulf goes back to Bedouin hunting on the desert margins, where a trained falcon meant meat through lean months, and it survives now as a passion rather than a necessity - UNESCO lists it as intangible heritage shared across many countries. In Doha, the falcon souq beside Souq Waqif is a row of shops where hooded birds sit on perches and change hands for sums that can reach extraordinary figures, and next door is a dedicated falcon hospital treating hundreds of birds. Winter is the season, when owners take birds into the desert for training and hunting trips.

What you actually see

• The falcon souq - shops of hooded birds beside Souq Waqif.
• The falcon hospital - the veterinary clinic treating the birds.
• Desert training - winter outings where falconers work their birds.
• Souq Waqif - the restored market next door with its own falcon shops.

When to go

The falconry season runs through the cool months from October to March, when birds are trained and hunted; the souq is busiest then. It operates year round for equipment and veterinary care. Evenings are the social hours at the souq.

Honest expectations

The souq is a working trading place - birds are stock, handled routinely, and visitors are tolerated rather than catered for. Ask before photographing birds or dealers. Handling a falcon is sometimes offered for a fee; welfare standards vary, so use judgement. Desert hunting trips are private affairs, not tourist products, and any offer to join one should be assessed carefully.

Nearby

Souq Waqif, the Museum of Islamic Art and the Doha corniche.