Bahrain‘s urban landscape came alive this week with some of its most iconic buildings aglow in the maroon and white colors of Qatar‘s flag. In a nighttime spectacle choreographed to overlap with Qatar’s 53rd National Day on Dec. 18, lights on government offices, business skyscrapers, and cultural monuments throughout Manama flashed in unison—expanding the city into a canvas of friendship that unfolded for miles.
Residents interrupted their evening routines, drawn out by the scene as dusk descended upon the Gulf. Camera-clicking spectators sat on seafront promenades and balconies to record the moment, with Bahrain Financial Harbour and the imposing Al-Fateh Grand Mosque bathed in celebratory colors in social media photographs.
Apart from the spectacular visuals, this gesture means more. Qatar National Day was first observed to commemorate the day in 1878 when Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani, regarded nowadays as the founder of the contemporary state, declared Qatar’s independence. Qataris commemorate their heritage annually with parades, fireworks displays, and traditional dances—a commemoration that has only become more spectacular since the country’s explosive boom in the last five decades.
What is distinctive about Bahrain’s tribute is that it is a reflection of shared Gulf identity. The two countries, the first to be members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) formed in 1981, have woven together intimate economic and cultural relationships with co-sponsored ventures in oil, education, and tourism. The two countries have also cooperated recently on regional environmental initiatives—such as the GCC mangrove restoration project along the Gulf north coast.
Even the Bahrain site was not random. The Bahrain World Trade Center, whose twin wind turbines have made it famous, represents innovation and sustainability—values that both nations are brandishing as they put money into alternative power. Conversely, the ancient Qal’at al-Bahrain fortress, also recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, serves as a reminder to viewers of a shared heritage that dates back to the Dilmun people over 4,000 years ago.
For Bahraini citizens, the light display signified the enduring strength of old friendships in a world undergoing rapid change. One resident wrote, “Watching our buildings shining with Qatar’s colors—it’s as if our hearts beat one.” Another joked that the light display was so realistic, passing boats in the harbor were probably thinking that they had come straight into Doha.
As the maroon and white luminance slowly dissolved along with the early morning, it left behind a memory that was more than just awe-inspiring. It confirmed the fact that, from the centuries-old trade roads to the concrete skyscrapers, Bahrain and Qatar are connected by history, by friendship—and now, by light itself.
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