Entry to the viewing platforms for Qatar National Day parade tomorrow (Saturday) at 9am at Doha Corniche will be controlled through barcoded invitations like last year, a senior official announced yesterday.
The northern platform will seat 6,557 invitees and the southern platform 2,706, explained Brigadier Dr Ali Khajim al-Athbi, director of the Facilities and Entities Security Department and head of the Security Committee for the National Day Celebrations. “The invitees should adhere to the specified paths to avoid delays. The Corniche will be open to the invitees until 7.30am,” he told a press conference at the headquarters of the Facilities and Entities Security Department.
Parking lots have been arranged for the invitees in Al Bidda Park at Qatar Bowling Centre, at the old Ministry of Interior (MoI) building, south of the podium, and between the media area and north of the podium, and in front of the new building of the MoI. The parking lots near the Imam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab Mosque are designated for those invitees without car entry passes. There will be Karwa buses to transport them to the Marmar Intersection and then to the entry gates.
This year’s parade will be limited to the infantry and not accompanied by any displays of military vehicles. But there are aerial as well as naval shows during the nearly hour-long parade. Spectators will not be allowed along the waterfront. Brigadier al-Athbi noted that the security cordon will be from Hamad Street to Burj Barzan Street. The closure will be from the Qatar Central Bank signals to the Hamad Street signals. The official stressed that the QND celebrations at Aspire Park and Al Wakra Old Souq are open to all. Activities at both the venues will conclude tomorrow.
