The Qatari Consulate in Jeddah celebrated the country’s National Day on Wednesday with several top diplomats and consular officials.

The guests included Fareed Azahr, deputy director general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Makkah region and Salim Omar Basahab from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Khamis bin Ibrahim Al-Mohannadi, the consul general of Qatar, other consuls general, Saudi businesspeople and journalists attended the function.

Qatar’s national day is a commemoration of the country’s unification and independence and is celebrated on Dec. 18. It marks the historic day in 1878 when Sheikh Jasim, the founder of the state of Qatar, succeeded his father, Sheikh Muhammad bin Thani, as the ruler and unified the country.

Emad S. Sha’at, consul general of Palestine, congratulated the country’s leader and its people and wished them prosperity in the future. He thanked the Qatar government for supporting the Palestinian struggle.