Qatar Amiri Guard

The Qatari Amiri Guard (Arabic: الحرس الأميري), also spelled as the Emiri Guard is an elite military protection unit of the Qatari Armed Forces.^[1] Their barracks are located in downtown Doha.^[2]

Activities

Protective services

The unit's primary responsibilities include ensuring the security of the Emir of Qatar and the House of Al Thani. Members of the unit stand guard at the Emir's residence in the capital of Doha and escort the head of state to different events.

Ceremonial duties

The unit provides public duties on behalf of the entire military. It provides guards of honor during military ceremonies (e.g. military parades, state visits, and funeral honors). It uses British style honor guard rituals when providing a general salute or conducting any commands in general. Members of the guard are annual participants in the Qatari National Day Parade.

Assets

• The Amiri Guard maintains a guard school at Barzan Camp that serves as a training center for potential recruits. Outside of Qatari forces, troops from the Kuwait Military Forces also have been trained here.^[3]
• The Amiri Guard Heliport is maintained in Ar-Rayyan.
• To the south of the village of Lehsiniya is a shooting range for the Amiri Guard.^[4]
• The guard has its own headquarters building to operate out of in the capital city. It currently accommodates three companies of 70 guards. ^[5]

International Cooperation

The guard has had multiple opportunities to engage with its foreign counterparts. During a visit of Amiri Guard Commander Major General Hazza bin Khalil al-Shahwani to the Pakistani capital of Islamabad, discussions of cooperation in the military field was held with President Arif Alvi.^[6] In January 2020, the guard launched the two-week Al Kawaser 2 drill with the Sultan's Special Forces of Oman.^[7]

See also

• United Arab Emirates Presidential Guard
• Saudi Royal Guard Regiment
• Republican Guard (Algeria)
• Republican Guard (Egypt)
• Republican Guard (Lebanon)

Sources