More than 230 participants from neighbouring GCC countries and India will take part in the sixth edition of Katara’s Traditional Dhow festival which begins Tuesday.

More than 100 dhows from all kinds and shapes have registered for the five-day festival it was announced in statement.

Katara general manager Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti said: “The success of the grand maritime traditional event is mainly attributed to the honorable patronage of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.”
He explained that the new edition of the festival will also see a number of maritime tournaments such as rowing, diving, Al Ghazl, Al Hdaq, and Al Lufah, in addition to the two new contests of bringing down the dhow loader.
For Al Nahmah, a jury will decide winners according to the purity and depth of voices as well as the performance of this traditional music form.
Dr al-Sulaiti noted that the festival will see several field trips for both international and Arab schools to the venue aimed at raising awareness on rich maritime legacy of Qatar and the Gulf amongst new generations.
Boat rides will also be available from 3pm to 9pm, taking passengers from The Pearl-Qatar to the Katara beach.
The festival has set several exciting activities and newly-designed events in place to attract a large public turnout of all age categories and nationalities. It aims to introduce guests to the rich maritime heritage of Qatar and the GCC countries.
Spectators can watch the Al Dasha (opening) at 3.30 pm on Katara beach, ushering in the launch of the 6th edition of the traditional dhow festival.
Stalls will be selling traditional handicrafts designed by the region’s best artisans, some known as the Wadaj, Al Tawash profession, Alyal, Al Yezaf, Laskar, Al Zarafah, Al Hadhrah, Al Qalafah and falaq, among others.
The traditional cafe will be ready to welcome audiences interested in meeting Qatari and Gulf researchers for a glimpse of the deeply-rooted maritime heritage of the forefathers and by listening to epic stories narrated on old-times region.
With the growing interest of residents in the festival, a number of cultural activities will be staged, including traditional performances inspired by the maritime legacy of the region. Performers from Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain will also take part.
Similar to the previous two editions, the organising committee has announced two competitions: the first is in fine art and it is about selecting the best portrait while the second is about selecting the best photograph.
The committee added that the competitions are open to both residents and nationals from both genders, in and outside Qatar.