Qatar National Day () is a national commemoration of

Qatar Qatar, officially the State of Qatar, is a country in West Asia. It occupies the Geography of Qatar, Qatar Peninsula on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East; it shares Qatar–Saudi Arabia border, its sole land b ...

's unification in 1878. It is celebrated annually on 18 December and is a national holiday by virtue of a 21 June 2007 decree of crown prince and heir apparent Sheikh

Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (; born 3 June 1980) is Emir of Qatar, reigning since 2013. Tamim is the fourth son of former emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, born to his second spouse, Moza bint Nasser, Moza bint Nassir. He became heir ...

. It is also known as Founder's Day.

Observance

The holiday is celebrated annually on 18 December. It is a national holiday and most of the public are given the day off from school and work. Prior to the emiri decree in June 2007, Qatar National Day was celebrated annually on 3 September, the day of Qatar's independence.

Activities

Several activities are organized during the week of observance. These include: *Fireworks show: Includes music, lights and fireworks. *Katara National Day celebrations: Festivities and over 20 heritage-themed events are held at

Katara Cultural Village file:Doha Qatar - Masjid Katara.jpg, Katara Mosque Katara Cultural Village (), also known simply as Katara (), is a cultural and commercial complex in Doha, Qatar, located on the eastern coast between West Bay (Doha), West Bay and The Pearl-Qatar ...

. * National Day parade: Members of the general public parade through the

Doha Corniche The Doha Corniche () is a waterfront promenade and dual carriageway extending for along the crescent-shaped Doha Bay in Qatar's capital city, Doha. A lush, semi-circular linear public space, the Corniche serves as the central location for nati ...

. Officials from the

Armed forces A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. Militaries are typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with their members identifiable by a ...

, ISF, Ministry of Interior, and Amiri Guard also participate in the parade. *Classic car show: Antique cars formerly owned by government officials are showcased. The

2022 FIFA World Cup Final The 2022 FIFA World Cup final was the final match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the 22nd edition of FIFA's competition for men's national football teams. The match was played at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, on 18 December 2022, the Qatari ...

took place on 18 December 2022.

Purpose and significance

On 18 December 1878,

Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani (; – 17 July 1913), also known as "The Founder", was the founder of the State of Qatar. He had a total of 56 children, 19 sons and 37 daughters. Early life Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani was born around 1825. ...

succeeded his father,

Mohammed bin Thani Mohammed bin Thani (; – 18 December 1878), also known as Mohammed bin Thani bin Mohammed Al Thamir (), was the first ruler from the House of Thani to rule the whole Qatari Peninsula, officially being recognized by the British in September ...

as ruler of the Qatari Peninsula. He was deemed to have unified all the local tribes by combating external forces, such as the

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

. He also earned a considerable degree of autonomy for the tribes of the peninsula. The holiday has been instrumental in developing a sense of national identity and is celebrated by locals and

expat An expatriate (often shortened to expat) is a person who resides outside their native country. The term often refers to a professional, skilled worker, or student from an affluent country. However, it may also refer to retirees, artists and ...

s alike. It is seen by the government as a method for preserving local culture.

Editions

2016 cancellation

Following the December 2016 end of the Battle of Aleppo in the Syrian Civil War, the government on 18 December announced it would cancel all festivities in solidarity with the people of the city of

Aleppo Aleppo is a city in Syria, which serves as the capital of the Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Governorates of Syria, governorate of Syria. With an estimated population of 2,098,000 residents it is Syria's largest city by urban area, and ...

Darb Al Saai

The Darb Al Saai festival, organized by Qatar's

Ministry of Culture Ministry of Culture may refer to: * Ministry of Tourism, Cultural Affairs, Youth and Sports (Albania) * Ministry of Culture (Algeria) * Ministry of Culture (Argentina) * Minister for the Arts (Australia) * Ministry of Culture (Azerbaijan)Ministry o ...

, is held annually in early December. The event runs daily for several days until the commencement of National Day on 18 December and aims to showcase the nation's cultural heritage and national identity. The name translates to "route of the messenger" in Arabic, and is related to the path taken by Sheikh

's messengers relaying his directives. Activities include the ceremonial flag-raising at Flag Square, accompanied by military performances and displays, including horse and camel-mounted contingents, and local musicians' live performances of sea music. The event also features exhibitions that delve into Qatar's past ways of life, traditional crafts, and folklore. Workshops offer hands-on experiences in wool weaving, tent fabric-making, bird photography, and creative activities for all ages. Educational workshops are also offered for both children and adults, such as Al Shaqab's seminar on

Arabian horse The Arabian or Arab horse ( , DIN 31635, DMG ''al-ḥiṣān al-ʿarabī'') is a horse breed, breed of horse with historic roots on the Arabian Peninsula. With a distinctive head shape and high tail carriage, the Arabian is one of the most easi ...

s at the 2023 edition, and the Ministry of Culture's workshops on

falconry Falconry is the hunting of wild animals in their natural state and habitat by means of a trained bird of prey. Small animals are hunted; squirrels and rabbits often fall prey to these birds. Two traditional terms are used to describe a person ...

and camel riding. Spanning a area in

Umm Salal Mohammed Umm Salal Mohammed () is a town in the municipality of Umm Salal in Qatar. The town has numerous farms, wells and a large water reservoir which is filled during the rainy season. History Umm Salal Mohammed was initially founded around 1910 by its ...

(as of 2022), the venue's unique design blends traditional Qatari architecture with modern elements. Three arterial roads provide access to the venue, as well as the

Doha Metro The Doha Metro (, ''Romanization of Arabic, romanized: Mitru ad-Dawha'') is a rapid transit system in the Doha Metropolitan Area of Qatar's capital city Doha, which became operational on 8 May 2019. It has three lines with an approximate overal ...

's Green Line. Prior to being relocated to Umm Salal Mohammed, the festival was held in the

Al Sadd Al Sadd Sports Club () is a Qatari sports club based in the Al Sadd district of the capital city Doha. It is best known for its association football team, which competes in the top level of Qatari football, the Qatar Stars League. Locally, it i ...

district of

Doha Doha ( ) is the capital city and main financial hub of Qatar. Located on the Persian Gulf coast in the east of the country, north of Al Wakrah and south of Al Khor (city), Al Khor and Lusail, it is home to most of the country's population. It ...

. Several commercial establishments are found at Darb Al Saai Market, all with traditional names and selling local souvenirs, clothing and cuisine, including several cafés offering

Arabic coffee Arabic coffee, also called Qahwa (), is a version of the brewed coffee of ''Coffea arabica'' beans. Most Arab countries throughout the Middle East have developed distinct methods for brewing and preparing coffee. Cardamom is an often-added spice ...

. Due to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

, the 2020 edition of the Darb Al Saai was canceled. The 2021 edition was also canceled as the new primary venue for festivities in Umm Salal Mohammed would not be ready until 2022. Instead, several small-scall activities preceding Qatar National Day at multiple venues were planned for that year. The National Day Parade along The Corniche was also canceled in 2023 and in 2024.

Gallery

Image:QND Fireworks.jpg, Fireworks celebration during Qatar National Day (2010) File:ExpatriatesQatarNationalDay1.jpg, Expatriates from the

UAE The United Arab Emirates (UAE), or simply the Emirates, is a country in West Asia, in the Middle East, at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is a federal elective monarchy made up of seven emirates, with Abu Dhabi serving as i ...

, participating in the night parade of the Qatar National Day File:QND 2017 Celebration.jpg, Qatar National Day 2017 Musical Fireworks Celebration at Corniche, Doha, State of Qatar File:DhowsQatarNationalDay.jpg, Dhow parade during Qatar National Day (2012) File:Qatar National Day 2017 Musical Fireworks, Doha.jpg, Qatar National Day 2017 Musical Fireworks

References

External links

Official websiteQatar National DayQatar National Day
{{Qatar topics 2007 establishments in Qatar Recurring events established in 2007 National days December observances Public holidays in Qatar Winter in Qatar