File photo of the balloons clicked during festival recently by The Peninsula reader Tahir Mahmood
Doha, Qatar: Qatar Balloon Festival (QBF) has evolved into a global sensation, attracting both local enthusiasts and international attention, as affirmed by QBF Flight Director, Lee Hooper.
Over the past few years, hosting the event in Qatar has propelled it to worldwide fame, with demand for balloonists’ participation consistently surpassing capacity. “The list of people who want to come to the balloon fiesta is always much longer than those we can accommodate, so it’s oversubscribed, it’s become really popular amongst balloonist because it’s such a beautiful place to fly,” Hooper said.
Hooper stressed the allure of Qatar for balloonists, describing it as a picturesque and ideal location for the festival. The popularity of the event extends beyond traditional hot air balloons, with special shapes like clowns and aliens adding a vibrant touch to the spectacle as they drift over the city.
The festival’s global impact is evident in the widespread dissemination of images worldwide. Hooper recounted how, even in the UK, where he picked up his parents last year, pictures of the Qatar Balloon Festival adorned newspapers, underscoring its international reach.
The ongoing 4th edition of QBF, running until December 18, boasts 55 hot air balloon participants hailing from France, Turkiye, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Hungary, Belgium, the United States, Slovenia, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Macedonia, Spain, Ireland, Croatia, and Brazil.
The festival’s itinerary spans morning and afternoon flights across various city locations, encompassing Katara, Sports City, the desert, Lusail and other places.
