Doha: The State of Qatar has made significant contributions to protecting and preserving falconry heritage at both domestic and international levels through extensive efforts. These efforts culminated in UNESCO's approval, in November 2010, of the inscription of falconry as a living human heritage on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, in collaboration with 11 Arab and foreign nations. According to Qatar News Agency, these notable efforts have been a result of Qatar's sustained work to preserve this heritage, including the staging of the Katara International Hunting and Falconry Exhibition (S'hail 2026), which follows a decade of success in showcasing heritage. The exhibition is marking this milestone under the mantra of "A Decade of Passion and Heritage". S'hail 2026 brings together 158 professional exhibitors from 15 Arab and foreign nations, showcasing products and solutions for hunting treks, camping equipment, hunting weapons, and vehicle outfitting for navigating ru gged terrain. Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Qatar Society of Al Gannas, Ali bin Khatam Al Mahshadi, told Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the society is participating in the exhibition due to its cultural position as an entity specializing in hunting sports and falconry, as well as falconers' affairs. He added that the society holds wide-ranging events in these fields and represents hunters in regional and global contests. Al Mahshadi emphasized that the exhibition is not merely a market for displaying gear and products, but a genuine opportunity for emerging generations to gain a glimpse of a consequential aspect of the heritage bequeathed by their forebears. Hunting and falconry have always been closely linked to conventional hunting practices, as well as enduring traditions passed down through generations. Qatar has long regarded these falconry traditions as time-honored heritage inherited from one generation to the next. Al Mahshadi elaborated on these traditions by affirming that the society i s currently prioritizing these timeless forms of heritage by engaging young people in tournaments and contests, along with visits to public and private schools by members of the society to introduce younger generations to the heritage of their forebears. He pointed out that the Katara-based society has been welcoming school delegations as part of these efforts. The society has devoted particular attention to this heritage by establishing the Qatari Falconry Archive to document the history of hunting and falconry, as well as the history of veteran falconers in Qatar. The archive collects books, documents, manuscripts, photographs, and written, audio, and visual materials, while also documenting the oral history associated with this Qatari heritage, making these resources available to researchers and academics. The society's achievements since its establishment in 2008 have been extensive, and it has documented them in its booth through a chronological account under the theme, "18 Years: A Qatari Journey Embo dying a Nation's Identity and Bringing the Authenticity of Heritage to the World". This booth also introduces the public to the society's achievements in the educational, scientific, medical, and veterinary fields. Al Mahshadi added that S'hail 2026 offers the public an opportunity to see some of the world's rarest falcons, outlining that the booth is showcasing two notable falcons. The first, named Nomas, is 29 years old, while the second, Katara, is less than a year old. The society documented Katara's hatching this year in one of Doha's high-rise buildings in a rare and unique occurrence. Al Mahshadi further emphasized that the society had achieved an unprecedented feat in the field of falcon genomics. In 2021, the society's Qatar Falcon Genome Project analyzed the genetic maps of the main falcon species and developed a highly accurate genetic test, the first project of its kind to identify falcon lineages and detect the degree of hybridization among captive-bred falcons. This scientific discovery is exp ected to further cement Qatar's leading position worldwide in the conservation and preservation of falconry. The society has organized an international conference on falcon veterinary medicine and offered veterinary and falcon-care training courses for falconers from several East Asian countries. These courses are held at Souq Waqif Falcon Hospital. Additionally, the society has undertaken projects aimed at preserving falcons in the wild, including an initiative to return falcons to nature to preserve biodiversity and protect the environment. The society has played a significant role in monitoring falcon migration by supporting a falcon-tracking device through the World Ethnosport Union in 2017. Among the society's achievements was the election of the chairman of the society's Board of Directors to the Board of Directors of the World Ethnosport Union in 2022. The society's team also won the title at the inaugural International Federation for Falconry Sports and Racing Cup. The society was named the world's best traditional sports organization by the World Ethnosport Union. In 2024, the society joined the International Federation for Falconry Sports and Racing (IFFSR), securing third place in the third edition of the International Federation for Falconry Sports and Racing Cup in the Masters rounds in 2026 and winning the World Champion title in the Gyr falcon chick category, setting a new world record with a time of 17.085 seconds. In essence, S'hail 2026 is set to conclude on Saturday evening by announcing its awards and revealing the results of the highly anticipated falcon auction.