Qatar occupies a unique position in the global landscape of traditional sports and games: a nation with deep Bedouin and maritime roots where ancient sporting traditions remain central to national identity, royal patronage, and cultural diplomacy. The International Council of Traditional Sports and Games has engaged with Qatar's traditional sports community as part of its broader engagement with Arab World heritage disciplines.

Falconry: A Living UNESCO Heritage

Falconry — the art of training and hunting with birds of prey — is perhaps Qatar's most iconic traditional sport. Practised for millennia across the Arabian Peninsula, falconry was jointly inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016 by a group of 11 countries including Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kazakhstan.

In Qatar, falconry is far more than sport: it is a social institution linking families, tribes, and generations. The Souq Waqif Falcon Hospital in Doha provides world-class veterinary care to falconers' birds, and the annual Qatar International Falcon and Hunting Festival draws enthusiasts from across the Arab world and Central Asia.

Camel Racing

Camel racing is one of the oldest sporting traditions in the Arabian Peninsula, and Qatar's Al Shahaniya racetrack hosts international competitions drawing camel owners from across the Gulf. The sport, once conducted with child jockeys, now uses robot jockeys — a technological adaptation that preserves the sport while eliminating harmful practices, a model ICTSG highlights as an example of responsible traditional sport evolution.

Furousiyya: Traditional Horsemanship

Furousiyya — the traditional Arab equestrian arts encompassing archery on horseback, lance skills, and acrobatic riding — represents one of the great martial sport traditions of the Islamic world. Qatar's equestrian heritage programmes have invested significantly in Furousiyya training, linking contemporary riders to techniques documented in 13th-century Arabic manuscripts.

Dhow Sailing and Maritime Heritage

Qatar's traditional dhow sailing races celebrate the nation's seafaring and pearl-diving past. Annual dhow regattas in Doha Bay preserve the skills of traditional wooden vessel navigation in an era of modern maritime technology.

ICTSG Engagement

ICTSG's engagement with Qatar's traditional sports ecosystem reflects its commitment to the Arab World as one of the globe's richest repositories of living traditional sporting heritage. Under the coordination of Dr. Hesham Al Jaser, ICTSG's Official Coordinator for the Arab Region, the Council works with Gulf Cooperation Council states to document, promote, and protect these disciplines at international level.