Qatar National Day — 18 December
Qatar celebrates its National Day every year on 18 December, marking the events of 1878.
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Why 18 December?
Qatar's National Day falls on 18 December, commemorating the day in 1878 when Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani succeeded his father and is regarded as the founder who unified the peninsula's tribes into a single state. The date was adopted as the official National Day in 2007, replacing an earlier independence anniversary, to root national identity in Qatar's own founding rather than the end of British protection on 3 September 1971. The distinctive maroon-and-white flag, with its nine-point serrated line, has official proportions of 11:28 — making it the only national flag more than twice as wide as it is tall; the maroon is said to have deepened from red over time through the effect of the fierce sun on natural dyes, and the nine points mark Qatar's inclusion among the emirates of the Gulf. National Day, known locally as Al Yaum Al Watani, is celebrated with a corniche parade, military and cultural displays, fireworks and heritage events honouring Sheikh Jassim's legacy.
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Quick facts
- Date
- 18 December (every year)
- Official name
- National Day
- Commemorates
- 1878
- Public holiday
- Yes, in Qatar