Transiting in Qatar: What Do You Need to Know
Long layover is almost always the bane of existence for pretty much all travelers worldwide. You could be worried about waiting hours at a mundane airport-and rightly so! But here’s a little secret: layover at Doha is going to change your perception.
Hamad International Airport is impressively one of the most luxurious in the world. Its architectural design and high-end services allow you to enjoy a smooth and pleasurable layover. Book a cheap flight with Qatar Airways promo code and find out how exciting and stress-free a layover in Qatar can be.
Is a Qatar Transit Visa needed?
If you plan to step out of the airport and explore the city, you will need a transit visa. The good news is over 100 nations are exempt from the need to have a visa to enter Qatar. If your layover is 5 hours or longer, you are entitled to a free Qatar Transit Visa, which is valid for 96 hours (4 days).
Application process for a Qatar Transit Visa
The transit visa needs to be applied for ahead of time, preferably within a period spanning from 7 to 90 days of coming into Qatar. You must make the application at the nearest Qatar Airways office with your passport.
Normally, evidence of having valid onward tickets for arrival and departure by Qatar Airways is mandatory for obtaining a transit visa. Your passport should still be valid for at least another six months beyond your arrival date. Other requirements may apply.
Once you have applied for the transit visa, you may check the status of your application by sending an email to Qatar Airways at [email protected]. Qatar Airways does not charge any service fees for the transit visa.
What to Do When You Transit in Doha
Stay Within the Airport
There are also many options to be found within Hamad International Airport for your continued lounging. The airport provides shopping and dining so that one passes the time in comfort.
– The Duty Free shop offers duty-free goods, including luxurious brands and exciting local souvenirs.
– Enjoy free Wi-Fi throughout the terminal.
– Pop into any one of the luxurious lounge facilities available in the airport.
– Take a stroll to admire the various bigger-than-life artworks on display.
– Enjoy the airport hotel, or relax in the Vitality Wellbeing & Fitness Center, which has an indoor temperature-controlled swimming pool, a gym with modern exercise equipment, and a hydrotherapy bath for relaxing.
Discover Doha
For those who prefer to explore Qatar outside the airport, a layover of up to 96 hours is sufficient to discover:
– Souq Waqif – A historical marketplace known for antiques, handicrafts, jewelry, and spices.
– Mall of Qatar, Galeries Lafayette Doha, or Doha Festival City for a little luxury shopping
– Museum of Islamic Art, National Museum of Qatar, and Katara Cultural Village – Learn about Qatar’s heritage and history.
– Doha Corniche and similarly, Aspire Park are good, broad swaths of green whose broad sidewalks are wonderful for taking a late afternoon stroll and observing the crowd.
Your layover in Qatar could be an experience to remember with first-class airport facilities at Hamad Airport and time spent in this intriguing city. You may even be inspired to come back and turn it into a whole trip!
