News Date:Sunday, 16 February 2020

Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim Al-Sulaiti, General Manager of Katara Cultural Village, inaugurated today (Sunday) the Katara International Exhibition and Conference for Pigeons in the presence of a number of ambassadors to Qatar and several delegates. Delegates from about 17 countries are partcipating in the exhibition and conference and there 3,350 pigeons on show in the event which is the first of its kind in the Middle East.
Inaugurating the event, Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim Al-Sulaiti said that the Katara International Pigeon Show is the largest platform in the Middle East which brings together amateurs and companies specialsing in this trade, stressing that the exhibition is held in cooperation with the International Federation of Pigeons. It’s for the first time this exhibition is being held in an Arab country.
Al-Sulaiti said that the Katara homing pigeon race started on February 15, in which 1,100 pigeons are participating, and a large number of them arrived in Doha for the competition. The first 40 will be chosen to win valuable prizes.
He explained that the aim of the exhibition was to make Qatar a hub for homing pigeons in the Middle East, expressing his confidence that Qatar will enter the map of the homing pigeon Olympics starting next year (2021) due to its geographical position that makes it at the center of the participating countries in the homing pigeon Olympiad from Asia and Europe.
Al Sulaiti said that the launch of this exhibition at Katara comes from its keenness to diversify its activities to include various interests, hobbies and sports, whether in relation to the Qatari folk heritage, or events of a global nature. “Katara International Exhibition for Pigeons brings all pigeon enthusiasts together. Pigeons are part of the Qatari folk heritage. We share this heritage with many countries of the world,” he said.
The exhibition includes several activities that will give the participants an opportunity to meet representatives of various international companies and exchange knowledge and experiences. Also, it provides a wonderful opportunity for visitors to learn about the homing pigeon sport.
Mr. Istvan Bardos, President of the Federation Colombophile International (International Racing Pigeon Federation) expressed his happiness at the huge international participation in the event, saying that this exhibition will pave the way for other bigger activities in the sector. He expressed his thanks to Katara Cultural Village for organizing the exhibition in a way that works to strengthen cooperation, relations and agreements.

Hamad Al-Khulaifi, media officer at the Youth Center for Hobbies, praised the homing pigeons department at the Katara International Exhibition. He said that pigeon hobbyists are looking forward to the auction of pigeons which will offer to buyers the elite and advanced homing pigeons from Europe which have won prizes in pigeon competitions. This will provide an opportunity for others also to sell their pigeons.
Mr. Nawaf Al-Rumaihi, a contesting member of the Youth Center for Hobbies in the homing pigeon section, said that the pigeon race that started from Kuwait to Doha was unique and a large number of pigeons were able to return and a number of them are participating in the exhibition. He pointed out that the Katara exhibition for homing pigeons constitutes a valuable opportunity for amateurs and professionals in the field to communicate with a number of Arab and international companies on medicines, accessories, nutritional supplements and representatives of international bodies, and this makes the exhibition an exceptional event in Qatar and the Middle East region.
Mr Charles Scerri., a member of the International Racing Pigeon Federation, said that the Federation plays a major role in developing laws and offering advice to various local federations in the field of homing pigeons. “We are witnessing a great interest in this sport in various countries. The Katara international exhibition provides an opportunity to exchange experiences and knowledge and to further attract the bodies that are active in this field internationally.”
The exhibition has enjoyed wide participation from companies that provide different services, including Zajil Market Company from Qatar. Its owner, Mr. Nasser Al-Kuwari, said: "The company is considered the first pharmacy specialising in homing pigeons, and we are holding agencies of major companies in Belgium and Germany. This exhibition is a great opportunity to exchange experiences and learn about what helps to develop this sport and hobby, and we are seeing the youth's interest in this hobby.”