Qatar is one of the countries in the Middle East, according to the Global Crime Index Statistics, and is one of the safest countries in the world. Apart from that, Qatar is also home to one of the biggest airports in the world. Here is further information about the Qatar Airport you need to know.
About Qatar Airport
Hamad International Airport is located in Doha, the capital of Qatar. Additionally, this Qatar Airport code is DOH.
DOH Airport was officially opened in 2014 following the closure of the old airport. It covers a total area of 5500 acres and handles close to 50 million passengers annually. It makes this airport the second largest in the region after Dubai Airport.
The airport designers went with an oasis theme, so most of the buildings of DOH Airport are adorned with water motifs and desert plants growing on the roofs.
According to Skytrax, Hamad International Airport ranked first as the World’s Best Airport in 2022. This airport is described as the most luxurious and architecturally significant terminal complex in the world.
Terminals and Facilities
This airport, which is the only international airport in Qatar, has only one terminal. However, it is a large terminal and has 5 concourses with 32 gates divided into 3 levels in a building.
At the Qatar Airport terminal, there are also many facilities and services for passengers. For example, information desks, prayer rooms, toilets, wheelchair assistance, smoking rooms, moving walkways, ATMs, children’s playground, currency exchange, and many others.
Hotels
DOH Airport provides many lounges for passengers waiting for their flights or arriving late at night or early in the morning. Most of these lounges are open 24 hours. Apart from that, hotels are also around the transit area if you want to rest and relax.
Several hotels around the airport area are 4- or 5-star hotels that provide a wide range of services and facilities for the hotel guests’ convenience.
Some Qatar Airport hotels nearby include Sleep ‘n Fly DOH Hotel, Oryx Hotel, Premier Inn, Hyatt Regency Hotel, VIP Hotel, and so on. These hotels’ rate is between 130-300 USD a night.
Transportations
When you are at Doha Qatar Airport, you don’t have to worry about getting to the city center or other downtown areas because many transportation options are available. You can choose one of the following modes of transportation:
- Car Rental
Around the airport area, there are many car rental companies offering car rentals with prices from 27-69 USD/day.
- Metro
You can use Metro transportation to get to the city center if you don’t have an international driver’s license. You can find this Metro station on L1 of the airport.
- Taxis
Taxi is the most widely used public transportation for travelers. You can find this service around the Arrivals Hall. To the city center, a taxi usually costs around 45 QAR (12.36 USD).
- Public Bus
You can find public bus stops outside the airport terminal by following the signs in the Arrivals Hall. Public buses in Doha have several routes so you need to make sure you get the right one. The bus ride costs around 3 QAR (0.82 USD).
Duty-free
There is a duty-free plaza that you can visit at this airport. It’s on L1 South Terminal close to the security check. You can find many items in the Qatar Airport duty free, such as beauty products, perfumes, gadgets & electronics, accessories, cigarettes, and so on.
In fact, Qatar prohibits the import of alcoholic beverages, so you cannot bring alcohol into this country. Although it’s strictly prohibited, licensed businesses such as hotels, restaurants and bars are allowed to serve alcohol to their guests who are 21 years and over.
Best Things to Do in Qatar
There are many fun things you can do while on vacation to Qatar. Some of them are:
- Safari Tour at Khor Al Adaid
You can do a Safari tour of Qatar’s desert landscapes at Khor Al Adaid. You can do many activities during this tour, such as dune bashing, camel riding, wildlife spotting, and so on.
- Visiting Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani Museum
This attraction is in Al Samariyah. In this museum, you can see various unique artifacts from various times in history. For example, calligraphy, traditional costumes, handwoven rugs, and vintage automobiles from various parts of the world.
- Enjoying The Amazing Nightlife of Al Wakrah Souq
In this place you will be presented with a view of the traditional Arabic architecture. Apart from that, there are also stalls selling souvenirs and spices. This place is close to the beach so you can walk along and see traditional dhows drawn to the shore.
So, those are some interesting things about Qatar Airport that you need to know before your vacation to this country. Fulfill your desired vacation plans with Airpaz to get the best deals on your flight tickets and hotel bookings.
