Qatar National Day 2017 guide

On the 18th of December, Qatar will commemorate its 138th year since its unification in 1878. Qatar National Day is celebrated every year with various traditional activities and costume displays, military parade, fireworks, and Qatari flag displays all over the country. Organised by the National Day Committee, ‘Darb Al Saai’ festival tent will once again house all the memorabilia to commemorate the historical event.

OFFICIAL CELEBRATIONS
18 December
Location: Al Corniche

National Day Parade from 3 pm – 4 pm

ASSOCIATED ACTIVITIES OF QATAR NATIONAL DAY 2017 CELEBRATIONS

As part of the Qatar National Day 2017 celebrations, the Organizing Committee of the Associated Activities of Qatar National Day 2017 Celebrations, in association with Ministry of Interior will hold mega cultural and sports events in collaboration with Asian expatriate communities, schools and companies on 18 December 2017 from 2:40 pm–10 pm.

• Cultural and musical performances by eight Asian community (Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Nepalese, Sri Lankan, Filipino, Indonesian and Malaysian) teams
• Performances by more than 6000 Students from 18 Asian Schools
• 7 Venues (Asian Town, Cricket Stadium, Labour City, Barwa Baraha, Rayyan Sports Club, Wakra Sports Club and Barwa Workers Recreation Complex, Al-Khor)
• More than 200,000 audiences expected from various communities
• Qatari thematic shows by 18 school teams, community and company teams
• International Cricket Tournament with international players from Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh
• Musical concert by 14 renowned artists from Pakistan at Wakra Sports Club
• 4 Asian Orchestra teams
• Harley Davidson motor bikes and Mawater classic cars shows
• 2 km long fun run by Filipino Community with 2000+ contestants
• Programs start at 2:40 pm on Monday 18 December 2017 in all venues except Rayyan Stadium where the Fun run of Filipino community will start at 1 pm
• Free blood sugar screening for 16,000 workers within 8 hours at Asian Town

DARB AL SAAI

9–20 December
Location: Darb Al Saai
Timings: 8 am–noon and 4 pm–10 pm

Highlights include:

• Al Maqtar: Traditional tents that demonstrates local traditions, life in the desert and family values
• Al Bidaa: A traditional mini marine environment that presents the old neighbourhood next to the beach.
• Al Shaqab Horse Dressage: Showcase of elegant Arabian horses and horseback-riding by jocks in traditional suits
• National Service: Activities and games related to military services
• The Rail: A small train that tours around the whole Darb Al Saai area
• Al Fereej: Arabic word for neighbourhood, Fereej showcases way of life of local community and families
• Al Doha:
• Qatar Foundation: A tent that exhibits educational and entertainment activities offered by the institution
• MoI Qatar: A special tent where you can find different services and equipment the local Ministry has, with interactive activities for kids
• Civil Defence: Fire drill and first aid interactive learning and more
• Al Ezba: A house for camels from grooming to taking care and riding.
• Ministry of Health: Learn about Qatar’s initiatives related to taking care of health and sickness prevention.
• Al Nasa Shooting: Practice target shooting using bow and arrow, shotgun and rifle.
• Al Liwan: Arabic word for long hall to welcome guests
• Souq Waqif: Free standing market selling products of Qatari local projects and aims to familiarise the community with local products.
• MMUP: A tent for the Ministry of Municipal and Urban Planning
• Elmeez: Provides a network of restaurants and stalls to allow visitors to taste different foods and popular cuisine.
• Almaseer

THE PEARL–QATAR
The Pearl Qatar_Qatar National Day 2017 Events in Qatar Doha

United Development Company (UDC), master developer of The Pearl-Qatar, has completed decorating the island and has lined up several social events and recreational activities to celebrate Qatar National Day.

The island-wide celebrations will take place from 15 till 18 December 2017, from 6 pm till 10 pm in 6 and 7 La Croisette, Porto Arabia.

During the four-day event, Arabic-style tents serving dates and traditional coffee will open their doors to residents and visitors while children will enjoy dedicated spaces to play and color their faces with National Day inspired designs.

Mascots portraying traditional cartoon characters, falcons on display and henna drawings are only some of the other activities that will mark National Day celebrations on the island.

Folkloric ‘Arda’ performances, which have long marked UDC’s National Day celebrations, will take center stage as children partake in military parades that evoke feelings of patriotism and loyalty to the country’s wise leadership.

(Source: Marhaba)

In Qatar? Note these important numbers

Ministries

Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs +974 4470777

Ministry of Economy and Commerce +974 4945555

Ministry of Education +974 4941111

Ministry of Foreign Affairs +974 4334334

Ministry of Interior +974 4849525/+974 4849510

Ministry of Defence +974 4614111

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture +974 4336254/+974 4413331

Ministry of Energy and Industry +974 4846444

Ministry of Justice +974 4842222

Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs +974 4841444

Ministry of Finance +974 4461444

Institutions

Academy for Sports Excellence (Aspire) 4136000

Kahramaa 4845555/4845464

Qatar General Post Office 4464336

Qatar Foundation for Child and Women Protection 4679444

Qatar University 4852222

Qatar Red Crescent Society 4435111

Institute of Administrative Development 4406666

Family Consultation center 4892888

Qatar Post Authority 4464000

Qatar Foundation for Education, Science & Community Development 4927000

Media Institutions

Raya 446655

Al Watan 4660400

Al Saharq 4557777

Qatar Radio & TV Corporation 4859555

Al Jazeera Channel 4896666

Healthcare Centres

Hamad General Hospital

Operator of H.G.H 4394444

Administration of H.G.H. 4391001

Patients Relations 4391427

Public Relations Section 4392012

Admitting 4392049 - 4392441

Intensive Care Unit 4392108

Hamad International Medical Training Center 4883643

E.M.S. Department 4392050

Women’s Hospital

Operator Women Hospital 4396666

Administration, Women Hospital 4393939

Delivery Room 4393518

Admitting 4393117

Intensive Care Unit 4393395

I.V.F. 4393020

Emergency Unit 4393344

Health Sciences Library 4393838

Rumaillah Hospital

Operator of Rumaillah Hospital 4393333

Administration of Rumaillah Hospital 4397000

Public Relations Section 4393358

Admitting Geriatrics 4393665

Children's Rehabilitation Unit Intensive Care Unit 4393348

TB Clinic 4393270

Psychiatry Unit 4384542 - 4384502

Plastic Surgery 4393172 - 4393647

Stroke Unit 4393196

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation 4397009

E.N.T. Unit 4393349

Prosthetics & Orthotics 4393587

Dental Section 4393082

Dermatology Section 4397026

Burns Unit 4393174

Cancer Center 4392723

Special Education Section 4397061

Speech Therapy Unit 4393107

Primary Health Centres

Al Montaza Center 4435784

Madinat Khaleefa Health Center 4862655

Al Rayyan Health Center 4803461

Airport Health Center 4675633

West Bay Health Center 4837790

Al Shammal Health Center 4731232

Al Khor Health Center 4720224

Al Wakrah Health Center 4644453

Oman Ibn Al Khatab Health Center 4667374

Abu Bakir Health Center 4681797

Al Shahanya Health Center 4718995

Um Ghwalina Health Center 4433892

Airline companies

Qatar Airways 4496666

Gulf Air 4455444/4455205

Air Arabia 4322111

Aero Asia Airlines 4430888

Saudi Arabian Airlines 4440121

Kuwait Airways 4435340

Emirates 4384477

Oman Air 4440456

Etihad Airways 4366657

Royal Jordanian Airlines 4351422

Tunis Air 4458306

Moroccan Airways 4458306

Yemenia Airlines 4458387

Syrian Arab Airlines 4412911

Egypt Air 4458325

Cathay Pacific 4458318

Lufthansa 4310633

Alitalia 4321427

British Airways 4321434

Turkish Airlines 4433028

Aeroflot 4458306

Air France 4321208

Austrian Airlines 4441161

KLM 4440320/4445101

American Airlines 4436600

Czech Airlines 4458306

Romania Airlines 4458306

Air India 4426889

Indian Airlines 4356040

Biman Air Bangladesh 4413054

Iran Air 4415318

Iran Aseman Airlines 4364799/4439333

Pak 4418022

Shaheen Air 4444440

Air China 4441161

Srilankan Airlines 4446345

Thai Air 4418666

Sudan Airways 4441159/4441161

Banks and Currency Exchange

Qatar Central Bank 4456456

Qatar National Bank 4407777

Bank of Qatar 4253555/4232222

Commercial Bank of Qatar 4490000

Doha Bank 4456000

Qatar Islamic International Bank 4385888

Qatar Islamic Bank 4448444

Qatar International Bank 4473700/4473888

Al-Rayan Bank 4253333

Qatar Development Bank 4421600

Arab Bank 4387777/4387878

Mashreq Bank 4413213

Alkhaliji Bank 4996000

HSBC 4382138/4382100

Banque Paribas 4424786/4378378

Standard Chartered 4414252

Bank Saderat Iran 4414646

United Bank Limited 4254400

Al-Fardan Exchange and Finance 4408408

Habib Qatar International Exchange 4328853

Theatres and Cinemas

Al Khaleej Cinema 4671811

Doha Cinema 4671811

City Centre Cinema 4934934

The Mall Cinema 4678666

Landmark Cinema 4881675

Amir Cinema 4424913

Palace Cinema (Royal Plaza) 4130000

Qatar National Theater 4831246

Companies

QTEL +974 4400400

Qatar National Hotel Company 4857777

Doha Securities Market 4333666

Qatar Chamber Of Commerce & Industry +974 4559111

Qatar Central Bank +974 4456456

Postal Services

DHL Qatar 4587888

Fedex 4434409

Aramex 4506611

UPS 4650606

Limousine Services

Doha limousine 4839999

Al Watan Limousine 4477999

Mustafawi Limousine 4671007

Qatar Limousine 4868688

Elite Limousine (Stretch) 4426184

Car Rental

Avis 4667744

Budget 4622678

Hertz 4677329

Europcar 4660677

Other useful telephone numbers

Police, Fire and Ambulance 999

Telephone Directory 180

International Calls Inquiry 150

Telephone Services 111

Doha Airport Air Traffic & Flights Inquiry 4629999-4656666

Qatar Metrological Department 4656590

Hamad General Hospital 4394444

Medical Commission 4679111

Customs & Ports Authority 4457457

Doha Airport Customs 4621104

Doha Port Customs 4457246

Border Points, Passports & Aliens Affairs Department 4890333

Doha Airport Passports & Security 4622105

Doha Airport (Instant Visas) 4622105

Doha Airport (Prearranged Visas) 4621751

Doha Port Passports 4457457

Traffic & Patrol Police Department 4890666

Public Relations At The Ministry Of Interior 4849444

Electricity Emergency 991

Qatar Emergency 4325959

Qatar Post Authority 4464000

Doha Securities Market 4333666

Qatar Chamber Of Commerce & Industry 4621131

Department Of Publications 4427373

Qatar Public Library 4389888

Qatar Photographic Society 4410209

Visual Arts Centre 4676251

Qatar National Museum 4442191

Qatar University 4852222

Youth General Authority 4316372

Qatar Red Crescent Society 4435111

When it rains in the desert...

There can nothing be more exciting than soaking in rain, that too in a desert country like Qatar. The weekend couldn’t be more pleasant to waking up to a rainy day. Even though Friday evening offered a bit of foreshadows for the pleasant gift to come on Saturday, I had not expected this kind of rain, call it a drizzle, for the whole day. I could see the joy when Vij kept saying mazha, mazha several times throughout the day.

Near TV Roundabout

The morning, Sunday, after the rain reminds me Steven’s song:
Morning has broken, like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for them springing fresh from the world

Sweet the rain’s new fall, sunlit from heaven
Like the first dewfall, on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where his feet pass

Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning
Born of the one light, Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God’s recreation of the new day.

Madinat Kalifat

Though Vij keeps telling me that on an average, it may rain for about eight days in a year in Qatar, it does not mean that those eight days are spread evenly throughout the year. So, over the past 11 months of my stay in Doha, I have seen rain here for 3-4 times, lucky me! Rainfall in Qatar is concentrated in the winter months. From June through October, rainfall average is zero, and May and November is little more. So those eight days are not spread over seven months, but rather five, from December through April, more than doubling the probability of rain taken over the whole year. But again, this too need not be accurate, as the weather keeps changing very frequently here.

Near Corniche

But Saturday’s rain made us cry, we want rain, rain and more rain… Having hot breakfast and lunch with some hot pakoras when it drizzled continuously giving pitter-patter sound on the roof was nothing, but bliss.

Spiral Mosque

Corniche

After lunch, we decided to go on a long drive as we wanted to see the rain-soaked Doha. And yes, it was a wonderful drive, from Khalifat Madinat to Corniche, to West Bay, to Pearl Qatar, to Al Khor town, to Al Khor Corniche, to Purple Island and back to Khalifat Madinat. Nothing could have been more exciting that driving in the drizzle and watching the rain hitting the windshield of our car and watching the trees doing moonwalk in this climate. For the first time, we noticed lanterns on the date trees along the Corniche.

I wanted to stand under the date trees in Corniche and feel the rain drops trickling from its leaves. The flowerbeds along the road were soaked with rainwater and when I wanted to click some pictures, drops of cool drizzles splashed on my face, sending cold waves across my body. Still, I could feel the nature, the beautiful smell of the earth.

Pearl fountain at Corniche

West Bay seen from Corniche

Navigating flooded roads, especially roundabouts, Vij had to drive carefully around broken down cars with flooded engines. As we moved towards Zig Zag Towers, we could see some more broken down cars littering the roads.

Corniche

It was cold, too, at least for us accustomed to the Middle East sunshine. Vij had forgotten to take his sweater and yes, I could see him shiver at times. I’ve never felt this cold. Wet, yes, but not this cold, he told me once.

Lanterns in the date trees

Sheraton hotel

But still I could see him enjoying the rain, the smell of the soil touched by the first rain drops, pitter-patter on the roof, and of course, the mood it brings – romantic, musical, slowdown and relax, not to forget the point that it was a blissful weekend!

City Centre

Rains always bring memories. I still remember how Vij used to ride me back home in the downpour. He never used to wear a sweater or a jacket. He just loved vrooming on the Bangalore roads during rainy season. It was fun watching school children going and coming back from schools. They were least bothered about getting wet. It was fun to see how they enjoyed every bit of the rain, splashing water to both sides as they walked on the wet roads. There used to be joy, a glow on their faces, a glow which gave them all the freedom to play in the rainwater. How I used to feel that I want to join them in splashing the water all around. When I was a student, I also had an experience of all this. Every academic year started with rains. Rambling umbrellas, drenched school bags and uniforms, window closed bus journeys, classrooms filled with dampness and darkness, those plays in the pool of water on roads, the smell of washed clothes all over the house, fear filled cold and damp nights…

Inter Continental Hotel

Outside Katara

And I loved sitting behind Vij on his bike during those rainy days. Walking in the rain, holding his hand tightly meant so much for me then. His warm hand gave me the comfort, the comfort of being loved and being taken care of, and now as the rain falls on the windshield of our car, old memories gush through memory.

Zig Zag Towers

After clicking several pictures inside the city, suddenly Vij felt like turning the wheels towards Al Khor, and in 30 minutes we reached the town and it was still 4 pm, but it was getting dark. As it’s always a pleasure to listen to some music when it rains, our music system in the car was playing some romantic songs. The time was so apt that even Vij kept humming till we returned from Al Khor: “Neeralli sanna aleyondu moodi, choorada chandraneega, allondu chooru, illondu chooru, ondagabeku bega…” without even knowing its meaning!

Flooded roundabout near Zig Zag Towers

Cricket field

Road to Al Khor

Even though it was getting dark, we thought of going to the Purple Island and went till the entrance and stopped. He wanted to go further, but I was too afraid to make a move, as it was still drizzling and getting dark. I insisted that we return and Vij agreed. As he took reverse, suddenly I felt that the car is about to topple, it was revolving at the same place. Vij was drifting in that wet sand and our car came two full circles within a moment and all I was doing was hold the seat firmly and scream, wondering if there was an accident. My hearbeat increased and was shocked for two-three minutes. Then the car stopped and Vij was all smiles, telling me that he wanted to do a drifting and was just doing that!

Road to Al Khor

At the entrance of Al Khor

Al Khor town

After two-three minutes, we left the Island and were back on the main road. Again, rain welcomed us to Doha and after another hour’s drive around the city and a yummy shawarma at a Lebanese restaurant near Decoration Roundabout, we headed towards
home.

Towards Pearl Island

Ras Lafan lights

If anybody says sunshine brings happiness, I will say they have not danced in the rain. And yes, sitting next to the man whom I love most, and driving on a rainy day makes me the most happiest person in the world. I’m in love with this guy, all over again! And now, living in the Middle East, the rains are distant dreams, but still, when it rains, it brings back so many memories, oh yes, all sweet memories…