Qatari residents celebrated the country’s National Day with patriotic fervour, paying scant regard to the ongoing diplomatic crisis that has tried to stifle the nation.

If anything, the crisis seems to have generated a greater sense of unity and solidarity among citizens and residents to the country’s leadership, reported Qatar Tribune.

Patriotism was at an all-time high as the Doha Corniche witnessed the biggest-ever military parade in history.

The ceremonial parade involved the armed forces, Ministry of Interior, Internal Security Forces, Emiri Guard, Coasts and Borders Security, Traffic and Police College along with National Service cadets and a group of school students in military uniforms.

HH The Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and HH The Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani attended the 10th National Parade.

The show began with the national anthem, followed by verses from the Holy Quran and 18 artillery rounds fired to mark the state’s national day, reported The Peninsula. 

Thousands of citizens and residents lined the stretch of the Corniche Street along which the parade moved. The parade proceeded amid aerial displays of various types of warplanes, combat helicopters, reconnaissance, transport and cargo aircraft followed by Emiri Cavalry and Camel Corps of the Emiri Guard and the Guards of Honour.

The parade also included a maritime show featuring strike boats and modern naval vessels. The parade show team performed different individual and group skydiving stunts featuring the flag of Qatar.

The parade showcased the military strength of the country, displaying an impressive array of sophisticated arsenal of the army, air and naval forces.

Qatar’s National Day has created a greater sense of unity among the nation’s 2.5m residents, reported Al Jazeera.