A sense of utmost pride and patriotism fills the air for every citizen and expatriate residing in Qatar. This year more so because Qatar, under the wise leadership of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, has weathered the unjust siege for over a year-and-a-half in a very professional manner. To promote national cohesion in society, Qatar National Day which falls on December 18 every year, is being held under the motto “As long as it is proven by our deeds ... Qatar remains free” this year. National Day commemorates the anniversary of the establishment of Qatar by the late Founder Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani.
Qatar has been at the forefront this year with many achievements, successes and excellence in various local and foreign sectors. The Water Security Mega Reservoirs Project, which was inaugurated recently by H H the Amir, is a huge achievement. The project is the largest of its kind in the world. H H the Amir also launched the web portal of the Doha Historical Dictionary of Arabic, which reflects Qatar’s keenness to protect the Arabic language and promote the identity of the Arab nation by promoting its language.
In the defence sector, a new airbase called “Tamim Airbase” was established. H H the Amir also patronised the ceremony of revealing the design for Lusail Stadium, the venue at which the opening and final games of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar will take place.
Qatar is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. It is the world’s largest liquefied natural gas producer and has become a major force in foreign investment, in addition to its achievements in political, cultural, social and legislative spheres.
Qatar’s health system ranked 13th among the best health systems in the world and ranked the first in the Middle East. Sidra Medicine was officially opened in 2018 as a global medical center dedicated to providing healthcare for women and children. Qatar also topped the list of the best countries in terms of quality of the Arab education system and ranked the fifth in the world according to the Competitiveness Report for 2017-2018. Qatar ranked among the top 10 economies in 14 competitive indicators in the same report. Qatar maintained its ranking position in the World Peace Index to be the first in the Arab world and the 30th out of 163 countries in the world in 2017.
Qatar is proceeding on the path of development and prosperity and is moving steadily and confidently towards the future. The State is also preparing citizens to be able to give, achieve, excel, build the nation and protect it through education, dedicated work and self-reliance in various fields.
The National Day celebrations at Darb Al Saai aim to highlight people’s patriotism and solidarity for its leadership. Qatar has, over the years, preserved its historical heritage and cultural identity, despite rapid advancements on many fronts. Qatar National Day is an occasion of renewed loyalty and is celebrated by citizens and residents to promote loyalty, unity, and pride in Qatar’s national identity.
