Qatar Independence Day

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The day has, however, been replaced by Qatar National Day. That may be a wise choice. Qatar was always more of a British protectorate rather than a dominion of the British Empire, and far from winning their independence from the UK Qatar had been keen to become part of the protectorate in the first place and, once they had it, to expand the protectorate.

The country had always been aware of the looming threat of Saudi Arabia and the Al Saud family, and had pushed the British to protect them long before a formal treaty was made. Eventually the British agreed to protect the country's sea borders. That still left the Qataris nervous about their land border with Saudi Arabia and pleading for cannons to protect themselves in the event of an attack.

The British ran down their influence in the Gulf and on 3rd September 1971 Qatar became independent. However, arguably a more important date for the Qatari Nation was the day when the Qatari tribes people, lead by the Al Thanis, defeated the Turkish Empire in battle. It is that day, Qatar National Day, which is now celebrated in Qatar rather than Independence Day.