December 18th is National Day in Qatar. Like the USA's July 4th Independence Day, this holiday is commerated with parades and fireworks. Festivities begin early in the morning with the National Day Parade along the Corniche. People arrive early in the AM to get a good seat, some choosing to camp out the night before. This is Qatar's annual expression of national pride and appreciation to the royals, as HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (Emir) and his wife, Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Misnad (Emiress).
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| Qatari Nationals getting into National Days garb. |
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| Dhow boat parade in misty AM. |
This fleet of traditional arab dhow boats under sail are now mostly for show, but Doha has a large motorized fishing fleet that still maintain much of the same hull shape and size.
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| Doha'a Corniche is always the center of pedestrian activities for all nationalities. |
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| Royal Air Force Helicopters making a "fly-by". |
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| Two brothers having fun after the parade. |
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| Let your national colors fly..Something to the effect:"I'm Qatari, and proud of it!" |
The best parades were not necessarily the official participants, but the thousands of Qatari nationals that take this occasion to decorate their own cars and ride atop their vehicles all over Doha.
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| Boys will be boys....no matter where they are from. |
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| Hey on National Day....everyone are friends! |
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| Qatari woman after parade. |
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| Traditional Bedu mask niqab. |
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| Junior, Dad, and Mom (in full Niqab & Abaya.) |
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| Parades wouldn't be the same without rolling out the military hardware. |
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| Military hardware in the Parade |
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| Hala. hala ! |
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| Nice flag! |
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| My car is cooler than your car. |
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| Evening with my friends from Mauritania. |
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| Doha's Corniche, December 18th 2010 |
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| Evening Boat Parade |
At the end of day, it was the absolutely most spectacular fireworks show that I have ever witnessed. Qatar spared no expense in lighting up West Bay and the Corniche with this most amazing fireworks show.
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| National Day wouldn't be complete without fireworks. |
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| Qatari revelers celebrating another National Day |
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| Meanwhile...down at Souq Waqif, there was the after-party Party. |
