Parade rehearsal wows spectators

Ministers and other dignitaries watch the rehearsal.

A military unit marching through the parade zone.

By Ramesh Mathew

Staff Reporter

More than 2,500 military and other security personnel marched in an impressive parade along a 2km stretch on Doha Corniche yesterday as part of the final rehearsal of the main military parade on Qatar National Day, to be celebrated on December 18.

HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, Minister of State for Defence Affairs and Cabinet Member HE Maj Gen Hamad bin Ali al-Attiyah  and Minister of  Youth Affairs and Sports HE Salah bin bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali were among those who watched the parade from a specially erected pavilion at Rumeilah Park for Families.

Several other senior military and defence officers and senior government officials also turned up to watch the parade, taken out between Qatar National Theatre and Emiri Diwan.

The colourful march featured contingents from the army, air force, navy, Emiri Guards, Lakhwiya, Al Fazaa, Coast Guards, and many other units of the Ministry of Interior.

Despite traffic restrictions, a number of residents also lined up along the route to watch the parade, which also featured a horse- and camel-mounted service personnel.

The motorcade of military vehicles, which was as attractive as the military march, comprised a large number of warfare equipment, including battle tanks, rocket launchers, armoured personnel carriers, heavy guns, anti-aircraft guns, propellers and mine detectors among others.

The aerial sorties of the air force jets left the spectators awe-struck. Equally impressive was the spectacle of helicopters carrying the Qatar National Flag flying over the parade zone, accompanied by parachute jumpers, who made a safe landing on the lawns at the Emiri Diwan.  

Teams of school children who would join the main parade on December 18 also came yesterday but owing to a tight time schedule their march past did not take place.