HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani participating in Ardha dance at Al Wajbah Fort in celebration of Qatar’s National Day.

By Joey Aguilar
Staff Reporter

Qatar is all decked up and the nation is in a festive mood to celebrate the National Day on Friday with a slew of programmes scheduled at venues across the country.

While the main event, the armed forces parade, will take place on the Doha Corniche in the morning, venues for associated events across the country will also receive a large number of visitors who want to watch cultural shows, sports, games and other activities.

Other than the military, units from the Ministry of Interior (MoI), Emiri Guards, Lekhwiya, Civil Defence and other governmental bodies will take part in the parade.

There will also be aerial and naval shows by the air force and the navy. Those who want to watch the parade are required to be present before 7am.

The Ministry of Interior and Qatar National Day (QND) Celebrations Organising Committee has collaborated with expatriate communities, schools and business establishments to hold different events and competitions at four locations: Asian Town (Industrial Area), Wakra Sports Stadium, Rayyan Sports Club and Barwa Workers’ Recreation Complex in Al Khor.

Some 300 students from the Philippine School of Doha will be participating in a number of cultural performances and art competitions at the Rayyan Sports Club, its principal Alexander Acosta told Gulf Times.

He said students from Philippine and Indian schools in Doha will take part in the activities and shows. All programmes will start from 8am and continue until evening with lunch and prayer breaks.

Many of the spectators will come from the Malaysian, Indonesian and Philippine expatriate communities.

Ambassadors and other embassy officials , who sent their congratulatory messages to HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and HH the Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, are expected to be among the gatherings on the Doha Corniche and Al Rayyan Sports Club.

Meanwhile, programmes and events at three other venues - Wakra Sports Club , Barwa Workers Recreation Complex and the Asian Town - started on Thursday and will continue until 11pm Friday.

Besides art competitions, an array of stage and musical shows led by renowned artistes will entertain Indian and Sri Lankan expatriates at the Asian Town amphitheatre from 8am.

On Thursday night, the Wakra Sports Club Indoor Stadium was in a festive mood with famous artistes from Lahore and Peshawar performing before Pakistani and Bangladeshi crowds. Cultural shows will take place on Friday from 8am to 10pm.

Nepalis, who form one of the biggest expatriate communities in Qatar, also started celebrating since Thursday afternoon at the Barwa Workers Recreation Complex.

Several cultural activities, and art and sports competitions will continue on Friday at the venue from 8am to 10pm.

Meanwhile, the Katara Cultural Village has put up stalls which serve Arabic food, snacks and other dishes on the beach area, attracting a large number of families.

Various QND activities and shows will be held on the Katara esplanade to welcome visitors especially in the evening.

Darb Al Saai, one of the major venues for the celebration, is also expected to continue receiving a large number of families.

Interactive and traditional games in pavilions and tents have been a favourite attraction among young visitors.

Safety and security measures, which have remained in place since the opening of the venues, will be maintained throughout the celebration.