Qatar is getting ready to celebrate a momentous National Day on December 18, coinciding with the final of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The day — on which Qatari people have for decades been celebrating their identity and unity and renewing their allegiance and confidence in the wise leadership — has been made extraordinarily special this year, as the nation and the region will also celebrate the successful hosting of the first FIFA World Cup in the Middle East and the Arab world.
This National Day will culminate a decade of tireless work by the country to build the infrastructure for the World Cup and welcome over a million football fans from across the world. Now with only two games left in the tournament, Qatar has succeeded in what it set out to do some 12 years ago when it won the rights to bring the World Cup to the Middle East. Millions of football fans, both visitors and locals, have been left in awe of the grandeur of the World Cup festivities. It has indeed been a job very well done by the hosts.
While World Cup festivities are taking place at all public places and tourist destinations across Qatar as well as football stadiums, National Day activities are mainly taking place in Darb Al Saai, a vast venue in Umm Salal dedicated for National Day events.
The celebrations at Darb Al Saai launched on November 25, and will continue until December 18. Spread over an area of 150,000 sqm, Darb Al Saai will host 4,500 cultural, heritage, arts, sports and entertainment activities. It is open daily from 3pm to 11pm.
As a cultural space, Darb Al Saai combines multiple events derived from Qatari environment and culture and inspires Arabic values.
Diversity of cultural and heritage events in Darb Al Saai underscores the interest of the Ministry of Culture and the organising committee in offering distinguished and rich events.
The National Day this year is an occasion to celebrate Qatar’s progress and great success in staging an exceptional World Cup. It is also an occasion to celebrate Qatari identity and values. The National Day slogan this year, ‘Our Unity is the Source of Our Strength’, is an apt and relevant message for the nation. With the vision and future planning by the leadership and the unity of Qatari people, the nation’s journey will continue under the leadership of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
