Participants aboard a traditional dhow boat during the hand-line fishing competition of the Senyar Festival off of Sealine south of Doha on April 21, 2025. (Photo by Karim Jaafar / AFP)
Doha, Qatar: The 11th edition of the Senyar Festival organised by the Cultural Village Foundation—Katara has kicked off with 54 teams from Qatar and GCC countries participating in the fishing and pearl-diving competitions.
The hand-line fishing, locally known as “Haddaq,” and pearl diving, known as “Lifah” will see participants vie for prizes in categories such as largest catch and skill mastery.
A traditional dhow boat cruises during the hand-line fishing competition of the Senyar Festival off of Sealine south of Doha on April 21, 2025. (Photo by Karim Jaafar / AFP)
The committee earlier announced that the catch is limited to 17 designated species of fish. The winners will be announced at the end of the festival on Friday at the Katara beachfront.
Senyar Festival 2025 / Photo by Karim Jaafar / AFP
Senyar Festival 2025 / Photo by Karim Jaafar / AFP
The Senyar Festival aims to revitalise the customs associated with maritime heritage in Qatar. The event seeks to maintain the rich tradition while "providing experience that connects younger generations with their authentic past."
Senyar Festival 2025 / Photo by Karim Jaafar / AFP
