This traditional dovecote in the Katara Cultural Village north of Doha, Qatar, is a reminder of an important aspect of Middle Eastern heritage. Found in the wild twenty million years ago, pigeons lived in mountain caves before man domesticated them in dovecotes. During the Abbasid Caliphate (750-1258), in addition to horses and camels, Arabs began to use pigeons to send messages, especially in turbulent times. Their use carried on through the centuries. Pigeons are gregarious birds that remain attached to their habitat; they can easily be domesticated and trained to carry messages, as they always return to their dovecote. Pigeons also participate in speed competitions and are used as bait in falconry, which is part of Qatar’s intangible cultural heritage.