Marmi Festival

مهرجان مارمي

View on map
Sports & AdventureSealine/Katara venues
DatesDates TBA · Usually JanuaryCheck locally before booking
Duration24 daysListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forCompetition, enduranceMarmi's competitions are highly specific
Language["ar"]Currency: QAR
CategorySports & AdventureFestival type
The story

Marmi Festival in Sealine/Katara venues

Marmi, formally the Qatar International Falconry and Hunting Festival, runs each January at Sabkhat Marmi, a desert sabkha near Sealine, organized by the Al Gannas Qatari Society for traditional hunting sports. Now past its sixteenth edition, it stages live falconry competitions, Saluki dog races, and public clay-pigeon shooting.

In November 2010, UNESCO added falconry to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, a recognition shared jointly by Qatar and a dozen other countries where the practice has deep roots.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Marmi's competitions are highly specific rather than a generic hunting showcase: Al-Talaa tests falcons hunting houbara bustard, Al-Da'wa runs falcon speed races across multiple heats, and the Hadad Al-Tahaddi challenge pits falcons directly against racing pigeons in a speed-catch contest, an unusual and specifically Gulf format

02

The mystery stays covered

A separate Saluki Hadad championship races the traditional Arabian hunting dog breed, and a Promising Falconer Championship gives young falconers their own competitive category

03

The city starts moving

The festival closes with a falcon beauty contest judging birds on conformation rather than performance, while a public clay-pigeon shooting range, open daily and organized by age and skill category, lets non-falconers take part directly rather than only watch

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

Falconry was inscribed by UNESCO on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in November 2010

Water and renewal

Living ritual

and Marmi's founding shortly afterward reflects a deliberate Qatari effort to formalize and compete around that recognized heritage

The sacred route

Living ritual

one of the oldest known dog breeds

The local code

Living ritual

has served Gulf hunters for centuries as a coursing companion

Tradition 5

Living ritual

and its inclusion alongside falconry keeps both halves of traditional desert hunting practice visible in one festival

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually January

Getting around

For route-based days, arrive early and expect normal streets around Sealine/Katara venues to work differently.

What to wear

Practical outdoor desert wear, closed shoes suited to sand and sabkha terrain, sun protection for daytime shooting sessions, and warmer layers for cool January mornings and evenings in the...

Safety

At Marmi Festival, respect barriers, moving equipment and marshal guidance; photos are never worth stepping into active areas.

Where to stay

For busy dates, stay near reliable routes so the return after Marmi Festival does not become the hardest part.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

["ar"] · QAR

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map25.29 N, 51.53 EOpen in Google Maps

Sealine/Katara venues, Doha, Qatar

Nearest airportDIA — Doha
TransportFor route-based days, arrive early and expect normal streets around Sealine/Katara venues to work differently.
Stay areaFor busy dates, stay near reliable routes so the return after Marmi Festival does not become the hardest part.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Sealine/Katara venues via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Sealine/Katara venues, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for January.Compare faresFestival gearPractical outdoor desert wear, closed shoes suited to sand and sabkha terrain, sun protection for daytime shooting sessions, and warmer layers for cool January mornings and evenings in the open desert.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Qatar and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

We may earn a small commission from trusted travel partners at no extra cost to you.

FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Marmi Festival?

Marmi Festival is listed for Past edition: 1–24 January 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Marmi Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Sealine/Katara venues, Qatar. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

24 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Needs editorial review. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Sealine/Katara venues, Doha, Qatar

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLAwaiting confirmation
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually January
Source statusNeeds editorial review
Related festivals

Continue the route.

Photo pending

Argungu Fishing Festival

Past edition: 11–14 February 2026

Argungu, Nigeria
Photo pending

Bay to Breakers

Past edition: 17 May 2026

San Francisco, United States
Photo pending

Daytona 500

Past edition: 15 February 2026

Daytona Beach, United States
Photo pending

Daytona Bike Week

Past edition: 27 February–8 March 2026

Daytona Beach, United States

Spotted something out of date? Submit a correction →