Umm salal: The Qatar National Day 2025 celebrations, organized by the Ministry of Culture, continued Saturday at Darb Al Saai in Umm Salal. At the heart of the key activities marking this day, the Ardha event started with fanfare as a living icon pulsating with the spirit of time-honored Qatari heritage and a firm embodiment of pride in national identity and social unity.
According to Qatar News Agency, this event continues to attract thousands of visitors daily, serving as a vital bridge connecting new generations to the history of their forebears and a symbol of timeless values. The Qatari Ardha resonates with its vibrant and spirited chants, anchored in words and poetry that celebrate love for the homeland, exalt its historic feats, and honor its noble values, igniting a profound sense of national pride among all attendees.
In a grandiose scene that strengthens values of patriotism, the Ardha is held daily beneath the soaring flagpole in the main square of Darb Al Saai, where the Al Waab Folk Arts Band presents a fully immersive traditional artistic tableau, drawing the audience around rows of performers who move in perfect harmony with rhythm and choreography. The performers wield traditional Arab swords and expertly beat the heritage drum, chanting national songs and poetry that exalt the homeland, celebrate its history, and honor its noble values. This synchronized visual and auditory spectacle imbues the Qatari Ardha with a profound cultural and historical dimension.
Head of the Al Waab Folk Arts Band, Younis Khalid, emphasized the pivotal role the band plays in these celebrations, noting that the Ardha represents a fundamental pillar in showcasing the nation's heritage. The Ardha continues to witness exceptional public turnout and remarkable engagement from all visitors to Darb Al Saai, with parents keen to bring their children to experience this essential corner of Qatari heritage, instilling in them the values of pride and deep-rooted national identity.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Culture is organizing the National Day Competition for the third consecutive year as part of the celebrations of Qatari identity and heritage, aiming to strengthen national belonging and instill heritage values across all segments of society, particularly among youth and children, through an interactive experience that fuses knowledge, enjoyment, and practical experience. This year's contest, presented by Director of the Qatar Media Centre (QMC), Iman Al Kaabi, alongside media professional Hamad Al Jameela, showcases a clear advancement in the design of games and activities, with organizers focusing on kinetic practices and experiential heritage experiences rather than solely on theoretical questions.
The contest features a diverse array of activities, including camel riding, traditional popular games, the preparation of Qatari luqaimat, and other activities reflecting the life of the Bedouins and the desert, creating a vivid, engaging, and culturally resonant experience for all participants. The ministry is committed to ensuring this experience is more than entertainment itself, but rather a platform to instill profound values intertwined with national identity, Al Kaabi highlighted, emphasizing that every corner of this square holds a certain significance, as well as an aspect of Qatari heritage.
This year's contests in Darb Al Saai embody this orientation through holding patrimonial games and activities, with visitors immersing themselves in the experience rather than merely hearing the information, she outlined. Al Kaabi affirmed that the contests will take place throughout the event daily from 7:30 a.m. until 8:30 p.m.
Al Jameela, for his part, highlighted that this year's competition builds on the resounding success of previous iterations, emphasizing that the events aim to delight all family members through popular competitions brimming with enjoyment and profound pride in the nation's heritage. The contest is not merely limited to public questions about the nation's history or patrimonial poems and sites, but comprises kinetic activities and experiences, such as horse riding and participation in traditional folk games previously practiced indoors and at cultural occasions, Al Jameela noted. He elaborated that the contest is more practical than ever before, offering visitors a live patrimonial experience and embodying the values of patience, collaboration, and belonging.
These events are profoundly significant as they showcase Qatar's leading role in popular and heritage sports. Darb Al Saai festivities continue, opening daily to the public from 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at its permanent venue, meticulously designed to fuse time-honored Qatari architectural heritage with a contemporary touch. The site offers top-notch services and facilities that guarantee a comfortable and secure experience for visitors and participating entities, while the careful arrangement of pavilions and spaces enhances the visual appeal and showcases Qatari identity in every intricate detail.