Qatar marked its National Day on Wednesday with a large-scale parade along the Doha Corniche, drawing thousands of residents and visitors who began arriving as early as 5am.
The parade officially commenced at 9am, showcasing a unified display of national pride, cultural heritage and loyalty to the country’s leadership.
Okay News reports that military units, cultural troupes and representatives of key public institutions took part in the procession, which stretched across the waterfront in one of the country’s biggest annual public events.
Crowds continued to build through the morning as families, students and visitors lined the viewing areas to watch the displays.
Beyond the Corniche, celebrations expanded across the country with a full day of activities at major cultural and heritage venues. Darb Al Saai, the traditional heart of National Day programming, attracted steady streams of visitors moving through re-created historical zones that illustrate Qatar’s early life on land and sea.
Traditional houses, artisanal market stalls, poetry recitals and storytelling corners introduced younger audiences to tribal dialects and stories from the desert routes that shaped early Qatari society.
Heritage houses dedicated to falconry, women’s crafts, Sadu weaving and traditional dairy production remained active throughout the day. At Al Azba, children interacted with camels and watched re-creations of seasonal Bedouin migration practices.
Celebrations also extended to Katara Cultural Village, Old Doha Port, Aspire Park, The Pearl Island, Gewan Islands and Lusail Boulevard.
Each venue hosted family-friendly events, live performances and cultural demonstrations. The Pearl and Gewan Islands featured themed shows, while Lusail Boulevard presented live performances focused on Qatari identity and community spirit.
Organisers said public turnout across all sites reflected strong engagement with this year’s theme, which emphasises unity, national values and the preservation of Qatari heritage.
