File photo for representational purposes only.
Doha: The events commemorating Qatar National Day (QND) this year will be held at the Darb Al Saai venue in the Umm Salal area from Dec. 10 to 20, the Ministry of Culture has announced.
These cultural events will feature an integrated experience showcasing the time-honored Qatari heritage, spotlighting loyalty and belonging bequeathed from forefathers and inherited by the people of Qatar generation after generation, the ministry noted.
It highlighted that these events are held under the QND's motto: "With You it Rises, From You it Awaits", offering a space for the gathering of citizens and residents to behold the history of this nation, its values, and identity, through a broad series of cultural, patrimonial, and artistic events on a space of 150,000 square meters at the permanent venue.
This year's events attract a host of entities, including the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Interior, National Cyber Security Agency, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, The National Archives of Qatar, Doha Forum, Qatar Cultural Center for the Deaf, Qatar Photography Center, Qatar Social and Cultural Center for the Blind, Qatar Reads, and Qatar Islamic Bank.
Al Muqtir and Al Izbah Heritage Camps emerge as the most consequential heritage pillars of these events, as contiguous houses represent a vivid simulation of life in the Qatari desert, hosting sessions of poetry and riddle games aimed at developing young people’s skills and familiarizing them with tribal dialects, desert routes, and landmarks.
The encampment features several heritage houses, including the Falconry and Hunting House, the Sadu and Weaving House showcasing women's crafts, and the Dairy Production House.
Al Izbah Heritage Camp allows children to learn camel riding and camel-handling techniques, providing a living model of the ancestral nomadic lifestyle and their steadfast adherence to traditional customs and practices.
Darb Al Saai also boasts of hosting a side event of the maritime heritage through the Al Bidda event, featuring the Majlis Al Bidda, Bait Al Mutawa, the traditional cafe, Majlis Al Nokhatha, Al Nahham, and Akkas Al Freej, showcasing conventional sea‑heritage games, cultural contests, and a maritime museum documenting Qatar's seafaring history.
Interestingly, bountiful events will be devoted to children as the organizing committee intends to organize activities in open areas, such as diverse sporting activities, with the main theatre hosting daily cultural events such as symposia and poetry evenings showcasing diverse patriotic and cultural content.
Assistant Undersecretary for Cultural Affairs at the Ministry and General Supervisor of QND celebrations HE Dr. Ghanem bin Mubarak Al Ali, said this year's motto reflects the commitment to maximizing investment in fellow citizens and benefiting from their energies to have a supreme and prosperous nation.
The events of QND are laser-focused on deepening the notion of capacity-building as an institutional and societal culture and making sure that values of innovation, giving, and excellence are propagated, in addition to promoting the notions of responsibility, rights, and duties of institutions and individuals, Dr. Al Ali underlined.
Dr. Al Ali pointed out that the key objective is to translate the vision of the sage leadership into making human beings the lynchpin of development and its aims.
He further clarified that the events underscore the importance of concerted efforts between institutions and individuals, enhancing the spirit of initiative and effective participation, advancing national talents, and empowering them in a wide diversity of fields, thereby demonstrating the depth of national belonging and responsibility pursued by the people of this generous homeland.
Darb Al Saai-hosted events are an extraordinary case to integrate the past with the present, opening a bright window toward the future, as this event behemoth constitutes a ground where identity grows and the meanings of patriotism of all community members integrate, Dr. Al Ali noted.
He elaborated that Darb Al Saai brings the nation's people together around values rooted deep in history, where the fragrance of the past meets present awareness and future aspirations.
This place remains a space that inspires and reinforces the values of Qatari identity as visitors to Darb Al Saai draw inspiration from its diverse activities, discovering the stories of those who came before and their will that shaped Qatar's journey, Al Ali pointed out.
He stressed that children learn here the meanings of chivalry and dignity, youth test their abilities in participation and giving, while adults see in the eyes of the visitors an appreciation for the legacy of contribution and sacrifices.
His Excellency reminded that the celebrations will feature the national parade along the Doha Corniche, a major patriotic event showcasing the participation of the various military and security sectors, alongside a number of state institutions.
On the other hand, the organizing committee indicated that Darb Al Saai will host a diverse and rich array of national, cultural, heritage, artistic, and recreational activities, aimed at strengthening national identity through the participation of all members of the community in this cherished national occasion.
The venue will offer visitors of all ages and backgrounds a time-honored educational and heritage experience through the main stage, the Qatari House, the Art Gallery, Sana Qatar, and the main competition, along with other bountiful heritage activities, the committee highlighted.
It further noted that the open spaces and exhibits at this venue reflect the work, faith, and vision through which the people of Qatar have built their history, emphasizing that Darb Al Saai remains an inspiring pathway, as Qatar's true strength lies in its people, their values, loyalty, and commitment to preserving heritage while building the future.
The committee also highlighted the Ardha patrimonial event to be staged in Lusail, a key feature of the National Day celebrations, embodying loyalty, patriotism, and unity among the Qatari people, while celebrating national pride, heritage, and the legacy of forebears.
Noteworthy, Darb Al Saai will be opening its doors to the public daily from 3pm to 11pm at its permanent premises, which were designed in a style that fuses Qatari architectural heritage with epochal touches, offering top-notch services and facilities that ensure comfortable and secure moments for visitors and participating entities.
Pavilions and booths are meticulously distributed, enhancing the visual dimension and highlighting Qatari identity in all its details.
