The ASEAN Committee in Doha (ACD) proudly held the ASEAN Dragon Boat Racing 2026, a community sporting event co-organized by the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines and the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Qatar on 16 May 2026 at Katara Beach.
DOHA 16 May 2026 - The ASEAN Committee in Doha (ACD) proudly held the ASEAN Dragon Boat Racing 2026, a community sporting event co-organized by the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines and the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Qatar on 16 May 2026 at Katara Beach.
Dragon boating is not only a sport common in most Southeast Asian nations, but has also been a symbol of coordination and team work. This spirit resonates strongly with the theme of Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN Chairship, “Navigating Our Future Together,” which highlights collective regional action, unity, and resilience. It further signifies a shared journey toward common goals amidst evolving regional challenges.
In his opening remarks, Philippine Ambassador to the State of Qatar H.E. Mardomel Celo D. Melicor highlighted, “Just as a dragon boat advances through synchronized effort, our nations too must navigate an increasingly complex world through dialogue, cooperation, mutual respect, and shared purpose.”
The event was open exclusively to ASEAN embassy staff, their families, and accredited personnel based in Doha, fostering stronger people-to-people ties within the ASEAN community far from home. Event partner Dragon Boat Regatta Qatar provided the participants with a brief introduction to dragon boating followed by water safety briefing and warm-up exercises. On the boats, with life vests on and training paddles ready, every paddler moved in perfect sync, and navigated distant shores together.
In his closing remarks, Indonesian Ambassador H.E. Syahda Guruh Langkah Samudera shared, “Indonesia has long been a powerhouse in dragon boat sports. We are honoured to co-organize this event, while celebrating the spirit of gotong royong – mutual cooperation – with ASEAN brothers and sisters.
The ACD, through its organizers, thanks its event partners Katara Cultural Village and Dragon Boat Regatta Qatar for making the event possible. The ACD is composed of the diplomatic missions of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam.
