United Development Company (UDC), master developer of The Pearl-Qatar, is all set to celebrate National Day with several social events and recreational activities from
December 15 to 18.
The island-wide celebrations will take place from 6pm to 10pm at 6 and 7 La Croisette, Porto Arabia.
UDC noted that the four-day event will witness Arabic-style tents serving dates and traditional coffee, opening their doors to residents and visitors.
The venue features dedicated spaces for children to play and colour 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 centre stage as children partake in military parades that evoke feelings of patriotism and loyalty to the country’s wise leadership.
Leading up to the celebrations, several roads, trees and concrete structures will be decorated while three-dimensional drawings depicting His Highness the Emir, as well as the national flag and the emblem of the State, will be projected at
Piazza Arabia.
UDC said these events underscore its strategic commitment, through its flagship project The Pearl-Qatar, to contribute to attaining the Qatar National Vision 2030 by engaging with local communities aimed at supporting the development of the tourism and leisure sector.
Qatar showed maturity in handling crisis: Thai envoy
Thailand ambassador to Qatar Soonthorn Chaiyindeepum said that Qatar’s National Day is the most important event for everyone in Qatar, as it helps develop a sense of unity and solidarity among the residents and Qatari citizens and gives expatriate communities in Qatar a chance to learn and appreciate the history, traditions and culture of the country.
Speaking on the occasion of National Day celebration, the ambassador said that Qatar has shown to the world its mature responses with calm and well handling of the crisis, adding that the livelihoods and business confidence have been restored quickly thanks to efficiency and strong determination of all government agencies to overcome the crisis.
He expressed hope that all sides exercise restraint and settle the conflict through dialogue.
He also said that Thailand supports the ongoing efforts by the Kuwaiti Emir and others towards finding a peaceful resolution to the dispute through diplomacy and dialogue on the basis of international law.
Thailand and Qatar, the ambassador said, established solid diplomatic relations in the past 37 years and have enjoyed cordial relationship and close co-operation in various fields, including trade exchange, investment, energy and tourism.
The exchange of high-level visits between the two countries has reaffirmed their friendship and promoted closer bilateral ties even further, he said, stressing that Qatar is one of the most important trade partners and export destinations in the Middle East region.
In 2016, he said, trade volume between Thailand and Qatar valued at $2,728mn, as Qatari exports to Thailand was valued at $278mn while import volume was valued at $2,441mn.
Qatar also plays an important role for Thailand’s energy security, as it is the biggest exporter of LNG to Thailand, he said.
“At the same time, with its expertise in agriculture, food technology and industry, Thailand is ready to support Qatar in fulfilling its initiative in food security and self-reliance, as well as its plan to achieve its National Vision 2030 and to be the host of the upcoming FIFA World Cup in 2022,” he pointed out.
He underlined that there are a number of agreements and MoUs between the two countries, covering many areas such as defence co-operation, civil aviation and media co-operation, in addition to a number of agreements and MoUs that are now under discussion, ranging from issues of bilateral investment, avoidance of double taxation exhibition promotion and security and co-operation in tourism and agriculture.
Ambassador Chaiyindeepum emphasised that Thailand is Qatar’s top destination for tourism and medical and healthcare services, pointing out that the Thai government grants a 30 days visa exemption for tourists, as well as a 90 day visa exemption for medical tourists for GCC nationals. (QNA)
