A Public Holiday With A Difference

Emiri Decree No.(80) of 2011 (Decree) was published in the Official Gazette on 15 January 2012 and with its publication the majority of employees in Qatar were granted a new public holiday, however this particular public holiday is a public holiday with a difference; it is in fact a National Sports Day. The Decree provides that Ministries, Government Departments, public sector institutions as well as other organisations, including those in the private sector, shall organise sporting activities on this day for their employees to participate in. The Decree also provides that Qatari's National Sports Day will be held on the second Tuesday of February in each year; this year that means Tuesday 14 February.