Doha

The activities of Darb Al Saai came to an end on Sunday, drawing a large number of visitors since they began on December 8.

Hosted annually as part of the Qatar National Day celebrations over a sprawling area in Al Sadd, Darb Al Saai features a wide range of attractions and activities catering to the tastes of people of different ages and backgrounds.

The activities help spread awareness on various key issues, celebrate the heritage and culture of Qatar and enable visitors, including children, to have a fun-filled time.

All major government entities took part in Darb Al Saai with special programmes aimed at introducing their functions and areas of interest to the public. Local media outlets had stalls at the venue, while a number of private companies and non-profit organisations also took part in the festivities.

Among the major participants was Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), which yesterday announced that some 111,350 people participated in its Darb Al Saai activities.

Saad al-Muhannadi, president of QF, said: “We have much to be thankful for on Qatar National Day 2015. We are proud to celebrate the achievements of Qatar Foundation in this, our 20th year, along with Qatar’s achievements as a whole.

“It is a testament to the steadfast guidance and support of Qatar Foundation chairperson HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser and HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani that this nation is becoming a knowledge-based economy."

Visitors took part in a variety of activities on offer, which were designed to be enjoyed by both children and parents alike. This year, QF’s schedule of events focused on five main themes: education and lifelong learning; research and innovation; culture and heritage preservation; sports, health and well-being; and sustainability.

Last week, QF also organised a special National Day celebration for its management and staff. The festivities took place in Education City, with more than 500 employees attending, and kicked off with the Qatar Leadership Academy (QLA) raising the national flag.

Additionally, QF schools hosted a series of fun-filled National Day activities. QLA presented the local dance, Ardha, while Qatar Academy Al Wakrah marked the occasion with musical performances and Awsaj Academy students put on a series of traditional shows.

Meanwhile, many of QF’s centres celebrated National Day, hosting activities both within the Darb Al Saai tent and in Education City.

Some of this year’s highlights included a horse simulator organised by Al Shaqab, Qatar Green Building Council’s virtual reality game and Texas A&M University at Qatar’s "Electronic Circuits" activity.

Another key participant was the Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC).

In a statement, the MEC said its pavilion received a considerable number of visitors from different backgrounds and age groups, who were introduced to the ministry's services and its role in consumer protection and combating commercial fraud.

Most of the activities were interactive in nature in order to engage the visitors and raise consumer awareness among them, promoting a culture of saving and moderate consumption. The activities included programmes that informed consumers on their rights and how to shop properly and avoid overspending and buying low-quality and counterfeit products.

The MEC also presented the "Young Businessman" programme to promote commercial and investment thinking among children and teach them how to plan well for their economic well-being. Other activities included quizzes and questions on the MEC's services.