Drone show in Qatar: 1,000 drones at Al Shaqab, Doha
A show of 1,000 DRONICO drones flew at the opening ceremony of HH The Father Amir’s Prix at Al Shaqab in Doha, the event that opens the international equestrian season. More than 240 riders from around the world took part in the tour. The show worked above the Longines Arena as part of the ceremony.
The opening of the Doha Equestrian Tour at Al Shaqab is one of those moments where sport, ritual and spectacle meet. With a strong competitive field and a carefully composed opening ceremony, the atmosphere was charged from the very first moment. The show moved within that rhythm, extending the light, motion and intensity of the scene and shaping a visual space above the Longines Arena.
- Format: outdoor drone show, 1,000 drones
- Where: Longines Arena, Al Shaqab, Doha, Qatar
- When: 5 January 2026
Our work in Qatar
Qatar is one of the markets where DRONICO works regularly, and not only with drones. Alongside this show, our projects in the country include:
- the opening ceremony of the FIFA Arab Cup 2025 at Al Bayt Stadium, in front of 70,000 spectators, where our glowing phoenixes were part of the storyline;
- a custom-built aircraft for the ICAO Gala Dinner at FALC 2025, the conference marking the 80th anniversary of the International Civil Aviation Organization;
- flying whale sharks for a Qatar Tourism campaign, a nod to the gathering that takes place off the Qatari coast every summer;
- a giant teddy bear for the Qatar Toy Festival at the Doha Exhibition & Convention Center;
- radio-controlled basketballs for the FIBA World Cup qualifiers, at the match between Qatar and China.
Permits for a drone show in Qatar
Flights are regulated by the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA). The applicant has to be a company registered in Qatar: a foreign operator cannot file directly.
The package includes registration of the unmanned aircraft system, an operational permit, liability insurance, the coordinates, altitude and time window, and a description of the mission with a risk assessment. QCAA requirements may cover the operating model and the composition of the fleet, so the format of the show has to be confirmed before the animation design is finalised.
As a guide, approval takes three to four weeks from the filing of the full package, and longer where the location is sensitive or the event is public. Bringing in a foreign operator means a contract with a Qatari company, filing through the local party, work visas, insurance and the temporary import of the equipment.
