Qatar National Day (18 December): Darb Al Saai, the parade and the rules

Qatar National Day on 18 December marks the founding of the State of Qatar by Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani in 1878. It is one of the biggest weeks of the year: the heritage festival at Darb Al Saai in Umm Salal opens about a week earlier, the military parade is held on the Doha Corniche on the morning of the 18th in years when it takes place, and Katara, Msheireb, Lusail Boulevard and The Pearl run their own shows. Residents of every nationality are welcome to join in. This guide covers the events, getting around, and the rules the Ministry of Interior (MOI) enforces every year on car decorations and behaviour, plus how to treat the flag. Holiday entitlement and pay are explained in the public holidays guide, so this one only touches on them. As of mid-October 2026 the 2026 dates for Darb Al Saai, the parade and the slogan have not been announced, so the details below come from 2025 and earlier and are marked as such.

Before you start

• The official 2026 announcements: Ministry of Culture for Darb Al Saai and the parade, MOI for car and safety rules, Qatar Rail for Metro changes
• Your company's holiday notice for 18 December (in 2026 it is a Friday, so ask what replaces it)
• The Metrash app on your phone, to check for any traffic fines after the celebrations
• Car flags, stickers or wraps that keep the windscreens, front side windows and both number plates clear
• Sun cream, a hat, water and a light jacket: the parade starts early in the morning and Darb Al Saai evenings get cool
• Your QID, in case you are asked for ID at any event
• A plan for getting home: a Metro route or a taxi app, since roads near the Corniche and Lusail close or jam
• For children: a note in their pocket with your phone number, as crowds at Darb Al Saai and the Corniche are large

Step by step

1. Know what the day is and when things start

   18 December commemorates Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani, who unified the country and founded the State of Qatar in 1878. Celebrations last for more than a week: in 2025 Darb Al Saai opened on 10 December and the main events were on Thursday 18 December. Each year the Organising Committee of the National Day Celebrations announces a slogan, usually in November; in 2025 it was 'With You It Rises, From You It Awaits', taken from words of the Amir. In 2026 National Day falls on a Friday. Follow the Ministry of Culture and MOI accounts from late November so you see the real dates as soon as they are published.

2. Check your day off and service hours

   National Day is an official public holiday for government and private-sector staff. Private-sector employees are entitled to 1 paid day under the Labour Law; what happens when it falls on a Friday, as in 2026, depends on your employer, and the public holidays guide explains this. In 2025, when it fell on a Thursday, government offices, banks and Qatar Post closed on 18 December and reopened on Sunday 21 December. Expect the government and the Qatar Central Bank to publish the 2026 arrangements in December. Hospitals' emergency departments stay open as normal.

   Read guide: Public holidays in Qatar: dates, private sector rules and pay →

3. Visit Darb Al Saai in Umm Salal

   Darb Al Saai is the official National Day heritage festival, run by the Ministry of Culture on a permanent 150,000 square metre site in Umm Salal. It recreates traditional Qatari life: desert tents and a majlis, falconry and hunting houses, Sadu weaving and women's crafts, a seafaring area with a small maritime museum, camel rides and games for children, exhibitions, poetry evenings and shows on the main stage. In 2025 it ran from 10 to 20 December, open daily from 3 pm to 11 pm; in 2024 it opened on 10 December and was extended to 21 December. Entry has been free in past years. The 2026 dates had not been announced by mid-October 2026.

4. Plan the trip to Darb Al Saai

   Umm Salal is north of Doha and is not on the Metro, so most people drive or take a taxi or ride-hailing car. Evenings on the weekend and on 17 and 18 December are the busiest, with long queues to get in and out of the parking areas; a weekday visit straight after 3 pm is much calmer. Agree a meeting point with children and older relatives as soon as you arrive, because the site is large and crowded. Bring cash and cards for the food and craft stalls, and dress for a cool, breezy evening.

   Read guide: Taxis and ride-hailing in Qatar: Karwa, Uber and other licensed apps →

5. Watch the parade on the Corniche

   The National Day Parade is a military and heritage march along the Doha Corniche on the morning of 18 December, attended by the Amir. It is not held every year: there was no parade in 2022 (the World Cup final was on 18 December), it was cancelled in 2023 in solidarity with Gaza, and cancelled again in 2024, before returning in 2025. In 2025 public entrances were open from 5 am to 7:30 am and the parade started at 9 am, so arriving early was essential. Watch for the official announcement that says whether there is a parade in 2026, where to enter, and what you may bring.

6. Use the Metro and expect closures

   On parade day roads around the Corniche close from the early morning, and driving into West Bay or near the Corniche is slow until the afternoon. In 2025 Doha Metro ran, but some Metrolink feeder buses were changed or suspended until 11:30 am and the MetroExpress did not serve West Bay QatarEnergy station. Sea traffic was also stopped along the Doha coast from 16 to 19 December. Park and Ride car parks at outer Metro stations are the easiest way in. Never leave a car on a pavement, verge or near a closure, because towing increases during the celebrations.

   Read guide: Parking in Doha: paid zones, apps and parking fines →

7. Find the other events and fireworks

   Many venues hold their own National Day programmes, mostly free to walk around. In 2025 these included National Day shows at Lusail Boulevard on 18 and 19 December, family activities at Msheireb Downtown Doha and The Pearl, the Traditional Dhow Festival at Katara and the Doha Tattoo Festival of marching bands. The fireworks in 2025 were at Lusail Stadium on the evening of 18 December, after the Arab Cup final, so the location changes from year to year. Check each venue's own channels in December for the 2026 programme.

8. Decorate your car within the rules

   Decorating cars in maroon and white is a big part of the day and is allowed, but MOI publishes limits each year. In 2025 they applied from 14 to 20 December: no tinting or colouring of the front or rear windscreen, no tint on the driver's and front passenger's side windows, no change to the car's original colour, nothing covering the front or rear number plate, and no stickers or messages unrelated to National Day. Flags on the rear side windows and maroon and white stickers on the body are the usual safe choice. Remove the decorations after the permitted period, and check Metrash afterwards for any fines.

   Read guide: Traffic fines in Qatar: check, pay, object, and avoid the travel ban →

9. Celebrate safely on the road and in crowds

   MOI's annual warnings ban spraying foam, coloured spray or any substance at people or cars, blocking roads, sudden stops and car gatherings, stunts, sitting on or climbing out of a moving car, and covering or changing number plates. These are enforced firmly: after National Day 2024 MOI said it seized 600 vehicles, referred 65 adults to the Public Prosecution and arrested 90 minors, whose guardians were summoned. Parents are responsible for children with foam cans and water guns, so leave them at home. Drive slowly near crowds, as pedestrians and children step into the road.

10. Treat the flag with respect

    Qatar's maroon and white flag is protected by law. Under the flag law issued in 2012, insulting the flag in public, for example by tearing it or showing contempt for it, can be punished by up to 3 years in prison and a fine of up to QAR 200,000. The law also bans adding words, pictures or designs to the flag, and using it for commercial purposes, as a brand or in advertising. Fly it only in good condition, take down a faded or torn flag rather than leaving it up, and do not let it drag on the ground.

11. Dress and behave respectfully

    Everyone is welcome to wear maroon and white, carry a small flag and join the singing and dancing. Normal public dress rules still apply, so keep shoulders and knees covered in crowds and at Darb Al Saai. Many expats wear a Qatari scarf or traditional dress on the day, and this is generally taken as a friendly gesture as long as it is worn respectfully. Ask before you photograph Qatari families or women, and do not post videos of other people without their consent, which can be a crime. If you are invited to a majlis or a family gathering, accept the coffee and dates and stand when elders arrive.

    Read guide: Laws and etiquette every Qatar resident should know →

What it costs

Official fees at the time of review. Fees change, so confirm before paying.

Common mistakes

• Trusting last year's dates: Darb Al Saai, the parade and the fireworks change each year and are only confirmed in late November or December
• Tinting the front side windows or windscreen, or covering a number plate with a sticker or flag, which MOI bans every year
• Leaving stickers or wraps on the car long after the permitted period
• Giving children foam or snow spray: spraying people or cars is banned and guardians are summoned when minors are caught
• Driving to the Corniche on parade morning instead of taking the Metro, then getting stuck behind closures
• Writing names or slogans on a Qatar flag, or using it in a shop's advert, which the flag law forbids
• Assuming you lose the day off because 18 December 2026 is a Friday, without checking your company's notice

Questions people ask

Official sources

• Marhaba: QND 2025 bank, transport and public notices ↗
• Qatar Tribune: Darb Al Saai 2025 dates, hours and activities ↗
• Qatar Tribune: MOI rules for car decorations (December 2025) ↗
• Marhaba: MOI urges responsible National Day celebrations ↗
• Qatar Tribune: MOI arrests and seizures after National Day 2024 ↗
• Gulf News: Qatar's flag law and penalties ↗

Always check the official source before acting. QatarSteps is independent and not a government website.

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