Falcon Souq Doha : A one of a kind market

Falcon Souq in Doha is definitely the most fascinating market you will ever see in your life (souq means a market or a bazaar). Seeing the Qataris buy these wonderful creatures is a spectacle.  But it’s not merely a market; it’s a representation of Qatar’s history and heritage. Located at one end of the splendid Souq Waqif, the Falcon Souq is a must visit when in Doha.

Falconry

With eyesight of around 8 times that of humans and a speed of 200 mph, falcons can easily catch prey in probably any landscape. The Bedouins (the nomadic people of the Arab desert) trained the falcons to hunt other animals in the desert. This art of training falcons to hunt in cooperation with humans is called falconry. It’s a 5000 year old tradition, although today it’s more of a sport rather than a means of survival.

Falcon Souq

There are several shops in the souq which sell falcons and its accessories. My wife and I entered one of the shops where the owner greeted us and was really kind enough to explain us the history of falconry and its importance to Qatar’s culture. He took us around the shop to show us the falcons. The birds were kept on wooden rails with hoods placed over their eyes. The hoods keep the birds calm and make it very easy for the buyers to transport them. He then shared some really cool facts with us

• Price of a falcon starts at around 3000$ and goes upto 1 million$ (I know it sounds crazy!)
• The falcons are trained to participate in various competitions : fastest falcons contest, hunting contest and a beauty contest
• Given their high prices, birds are taken out of the country illegally for trading. To counter it, falcons are issued their own passports with the owner’s details on it ( this happens especially in UAE)
• But what’s the use of a passport if you don’t get to travel. Well, the Middle Eastern airlines like the Qatar Airways, Etihad and Emirates have a solution. Falcons can be carried in these airlines as a cabin baggage. Infact, it’s not unusual to find a falcon on the seat beside you while travelling with these airlines.

The owner was such a kind gentleman that he offered us to hold these birds for a picture, that too without the hood! We couldn’t thank him enough for his valuable time and gesture. Just before leaving, he asked us to visit a building right next to his shop to get a complete experience of the souq. It was a hospital, but one for the falcons!

Souq Waqif Falcon Hospital

This special hospital for falcons has vets and modern equipment for treating these birds. We met an Indian doctor there who showed us around. He took us to an operation theater where the doctors were operating on the bird’s food pipe to remove something. He also showed us a room which was kind of a spa for falcons. The owners bring their birds for a periodic check-up, sometimes for a vaccination or an x-ray. The birds are issued an identity card which helps the vets to check their medical history on their computer system.

How to reach the Falcon Souq

The falcon souq is adjacent to the very famous Souq Waqif. The falcon hospital is part of the falcon souq.

Sincera Tip

• The falcon souq is open on all days except Fridays from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm. Try not to visit during the lunch hours though.
• The Qatar International Falcons and Hunting Festival takes place in January. If you happen to be in Doha during that time, you will be in for some rich experience