Old Doha Port has announced that the third edition of the Fishing Competition, will take place alongside the second edition of the Fishing Exhibition in March 2026. The announcement was made during an official press conference held at Old Doha Port.

The Fishing Competition will take place from 25 to 27 March 2026, with the awards ceremony held on 28 March 2026. Participating teams will set sail from Old Doha Port, competing over three days to catch the largest kingfish (kan’ad) in Qatar’s waters.

The competition invites fishing enthusiasts to catch the kingfish (kan’ad), a prized regional catch. Organized in collaboration with the Doha Marine Sports Club, the competition reflects Qatar’s deep-rooted fishing traditions through a modern, competitive format.

This year’s edition features premium prizes exceeding QAR 600,000.

Commenting on the announcement, CEO of Old Doha Port, Eng. Mohammed Abdulla Al Mulla said: “The Fishing Competition is fundamentally about supporting fishermen and preserving a tradition that sits at the heart of Qatar’s identity. By recognizing skill and local talent, Old Doha Port aims to honour the fishing community while ensuring these traditions continue to thrive in a modern, competitive setting.”

Participants will set sail from Old Doha Port for the first three days of the competition for a full day at sea. Each team will submit a video documenting their largest catch, including the fishing process, boat registration, and weight verification. The deadline for video submissions will be announced by the judging committee on the second day of the competition.

On March 28, 2026, participants will gather at Old Doha Port for live fish weighing and verification, followed by the awards ceremony held during the Fishing Exhibition. Winners will be determined by the weight of their top kingfish catch, with the first valid submission used as a tie-breaker where applicable. The top 10 teams will be awarded.

Teams must be led by a Qatari captain (Nukhatha), though residents and fishing enthusiasts from GCC countries may join as team members. Registration requires submitting a completed entry form, valid identification for all team members, and a valid boat registration.

Further details regarding registration openings, contact numbers and the registration website will be announced in the coming period.

The previous edition of the competition witnessed a remarkable turnout of 578 participants across 132 teams, firmly establishing it as the largest fishing competition in the country.