In this article I will talk a little about the airport at Hamad Qatar Doha International Airport (DOH). If you're going to fly Qatar Airways, then, of course, I recommend reading.
Qatar Airways is one of the best airlines world, and like most Arab companies is famous for its service and has received many awards. Their base airport, Hamad, is located in Doha and often has to be spent many hours there, if not very lucky with connections. But good prices on tickets and excellent service allow you to come to terms with these small inconveniences. And if you read this article, you can spend your time quite comfortably and interestingly.
Let's consider two main options - a long connection (transit transfer from 8 to 24 hours) in Doha - and a short transfer (less than 8 hours).
Long connection at Doha Qatar Airways
Previously, subject to a long connection in Doha, you could be given coupons for free meals and hotel accommodation. Now the conditions have changed a little - no one will give you free coupons for food at the airport. But on the other hand, you can apply for a free transit visa and a hotel room (food at the hotel will also be a gift :)). But in order to receive all these bonuses, it is advisable for you to take care of this in advance and check if your transfer in Doha to Qatar Airways terms:
- duration of docking from 8 to 24 hours
- there are no other Qatar Airways flights on your route with a connection less than 8 hours
- flights outside the Arab region
You can find more details on the official website, where you can also check whether your flight meets the conditions and make a request for accommodation.
A little about my experience of using this service:
On our return from Cape Town, we had an overnight transfer in Doha from 22.45 to 07.45. I decided to try to make a request, to clarify whether the hotel will be provided for the duration of the long docking. In response, I received a letter that everything is fine, our transit meets the conditions and we will be provided with a hotel for this time. After landing, we proceeded to the transit counter, from there we were sent to the counter, on the second floor, where, after standing in a small queue with the same transit passengers, we presented a printed confirmation of the hotel's provision and were sent to go through passport control. After receiving transit visa we still waited about 20-30 minutes for the group to form on the bus. Passengers were assigned to different hotels, perhaps, depending on the class of service, perhaps just by the time of departure, in order to make the most of the vehicle's capacity. On the way to the hotel we admired the night views of Doha (but did not see anything particularly impressive :)).
After arriving at the hotel, we quickly checked in and went to dinner. There was no more abundance, but the choice was quite decent, we ate with pleasure. Initially we thought that after dinner we would go for a walk around the city new town, you never know, will we get here again), but after leaving the hotel we realized that there was nowhere much to go, it’s night outside, around some buildings under construction, it’s decent to get to the city center, so we just decided to go to bed. In the morning we went down to the hotel lobby at the appointed time (about 2 hours before departure), loaded onto the bus and moved towards the airport. And then everything is standard - passport control, a little walk around Duty Free and waiting at our gate for boarding.
This is how our long connecting-transit at Hamad Doha airport with Qatar Airways went. I hope you find this information useful. Well, if your transplant is shorter in time, or does not meet the conditions of provision free hotel then I recommend reading my other article about this beautiful airport.
When buying a ticket, Qatar Airways is often asked the question, "Which connection should I choose, long or short?"
It would seem a strange question, of course a short one. Why waste time at the airport?
But the fact is that the Qataris have a short one, which means a little over an hour or even 50 minutes. And many questions immediately arise, especially for those who travel on their own for the first time?
Will we have time to transfer to the next flight in 1 hour at Doha airport?
Will they manage to reload baggage from flight to flight?
We answer with complete confidence - SUCCESS. We have repeatedly flown with Qatar Airways even with a 50-minute connection.
The main thing is to know what to do if you have a short connection in Doha.
Short transfer at Qatar Hamad airport
If you buy a single Qatar Airways ticket for 2 flights, then upon check-in at the airport of departure you will receive 2 boarding passes and you will not have to re-register in Doha. You will not receive your luggage in Qatar either - it flies to your final destination.
In our experience, it takes 35 minutes for a transfer, so if you have an hour-long stop, you will also have time to drink coffee or smoke.
Even to the distant gates C and D.
Moreover, boarding passes at check-in at the airport counter will be given to you in a yellow envelope if you have a long connection in Doha, in orange if it is short and in green if the transfer is ultra-short (less than an hour).
Here is this envelope and wave it when you leave the plane in Hamada.
You won't have to explain anything to the airport staff with him - they will help you in every possible way.
Remember, if you miss your next flight, the airline is obliged to put you on the next one free of charge. They need it ????? Therefore, they will help you in every possible way, perhaps even provide a fast transfer before the next boarding gate.
If you nevertheless decided to play it safe and chose a ticket with a long transfer, keep in mind that you will not receive a free transit hotel, no matter how long the stop is.
Long Doha Connection
The main questions that arise during a long transplant are "what to do?" and
"where to spend the night?" if it is night.
Transit Hotel by Qatar Airways
For transit passengers with a long transfer in Doha, the airline provides services for hotel accommodation, entry visa processing, catering (breakfast) and transfer from the airport to the hotel and back.
A free transit hotel is eligible if you are flying with a single ticket, i.e. you have 2 boarding passes on hand if the minimum possible interval between flights on your direction is at least 8 hours.
If your ticket was purchased under the Qatar promo, then most likely it has a promo rate (tariff (O)) and you will not receive a free hotel either.
You are entitled to a free transit hotel if:
on hand a single ticket for a Qatar Airways flight with a connection to International airport Hamad
the ticket was purchased in economy, first or business class at any tariff, except for promo (tariffO)
the time between flights exceeds 8 hours and there is no combination of flights with shorter connections
If at least one of these conditions is not met, there will be no free hotel, but you can book a hotel in advance for money
But the cost of hotels at the airport bites:
For first and business class passengers, the cost will be $ 150 per person
For economy class passengers - $ 120 per person
Moreover, the price of accommodation for children is the same as for adults.
But with the abolition of visas to Qatar for Russians, this problem disappeared. You can always spend the night in Doha. There are hotels for every taste and budget, and it is better to choose those that provide a transfer to the airport.
For example, a great not expensive option Al Mansour Suites Hotel
And you can feel like an Arab sheikh for 1 night, staying in a luxurious 5 * Warwick Doha hotel. Moreover, it is still much cheaper than a hotel.
If you don't want to spend money on a hotel, you can spend your docking time in the airport lounge. There are quite a few of them, and the most diverse - family, only for women, only for men, mixed.
They are located in the gate areas.
There are no adequate sleeping places there, but there is a shower, reclining chairs and you can relax quite comfortably, if, of course, there are free seats.
You won't be able to sleep more or less comfortably in an ordinary waiting room at the boarding gate, there are handles between the seats, so only sitting
But do not despair if you do not get a place in the recreation area. Hamad International Airport already has something to keep you busy.
There are many duty free shops with a very decent assortment and quite humane prices.
Excellent free Wi-Fi throughout the airport
There is also where to eat. A whole "gluttony row" for every taste and budget
City tour for transit passengers
In practice, if it is less than 5 hours before boarding your flight and the beginning of the excursion, you are often asked to write a piece of paper in which you take full responsibility in case of a delay in flight.
Where to buy a sightseeing tour of Doha
The Doha Citi Tours registration desk is located at the exit to Gallery V.
Come to the hall, in the center of which there is a large lamp with an incomprehensible yellow animal,
turn to face gallery B and the required rack will be on the left
And in conclusion, the answer to another burning question.
Visa to Qatar
Visa in Qatar for Russians not needed for travel for tourist purposes up to 30 days
Millions of tourists annually visit Doha - the capital and, at the same time, the most Big city the Arab state of Qatar. It is located on the shores of the Persian Gulf and is included in the list of the most beautiful cities the world. You can admire its sights and enjoy oriental hospitality since 2017 without first applying for a visa (if the time of stay in the country does not exceed 30 days).
For Russians, there is a simplified visa regime with the state of Qatar: the new rules have established reduced terms for obtaining, and now also allow you to issue an entry document for 1 month directly upon arrival (the cost of 100 Qatari rials is about $ 28). An application for registration can also be submitted in advance via the Internet.
Prerequisites for obtaining an entry document:
- at the border checkpoint, you must present a hotel booking document;
- be the owner of $ 1,500 (in cash or on a bank card);
- passport valid for at least 6 months;
- have a ticket for a flight to Doha and from Doha back, or to the next country of travel.
How to find a job in Qatar and open a work visa and not fall for the tricks of scammers? See the answer in the video:
How to get a transit visa?
On some transit flights there is a long docking, i.e. when, in order to continue the journey, you need to transfer to another plane in Doha and the time difference between the flight on which you arrive at the connecting point and the other flight is several hours. When issuing a ticket for a flight with a transfer, you can include a stop in this city in advance in the route for an interval of time from 5 to 96 hours to find out amazing place better.
For this time (in order not to sit at the airport, but to use the services of guides and be able to spend the night comfortably in the selected hotel), you need to issue a transit visa. This is done in advance by submitting an application through the website of the air carrier, travel agency or independently. You must attach to it:
- a clear photocopy of the passport (if you are traveling with a child - a photocopy of his passport). Document validity: not less than 6 months. from the moment of arrival in Qatar;
- a copy of the flight ticket.
In addition, the approval of the Qatar Ministry of Internal Affairs will be required, a sample of which can be seen in the picture:
After a while on email a response will come from the government of Qatar with permission to issue a transit visa. You need to print it and take it with you on a trip to present it to customs officers.
When is a transit visa not required?
When transiting through Qatar, you do not need to obtain an entry document if:
- the time between flights does not exceed 3 days;
- the tourist at this time is in the transit area of the airport in Doha.
If travelers are Qatar Airways passengers, they can count on toll free numbers at the hotel, if the following conditions are met:
- forced connection of flights not at the request of passengers, but through the fault of the airline;
- time between transfers - from 8 to 24 hours;
- such a long transplant takes place in Doha;
- the route contains stops such as: Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, Kuwait, Muscat, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah.
Long Term Visa
If the required stay exceeds 30 days, then in this case it is impossible to stay in Qatar without a long-term visa. Obtaining such a document is a little more difficult than its transit version. To do this, those wishing to visit Qatar first apply to the Consulate located in the capital of the Russian Federation and submit certain documents. You must have with you:
- a passport valid for more than six months;
- 3 photos, the size of which is 3.5 cm by 4.5 cm (black and white or color);
- 3 copies of questionnaires completed in English or Arabic letters, each of which is signed by the applicant ( download the application form);
- a document confirming a valid hotel reservation or an invitation from third parties residing in Qatar.
This is how a hotel reservation looks like:
When submitting a package of documents for obtaining a visa to the Consulate, its employees may oblige the applicant to confirm his material capabilities. The tourist has the right to provide cash, his credit card or bank statement.
The cost of such a visa is $ 33. The term of receipt is 30-35 days.
What is noteworthy: if the traveler has previously visited Israel before applying for a visa, this will not play any role, because Qatar is one of the few Arab countries that does not prevent the entry of those who have previously visited Israel or the Israelis themselves.
Child visa application
Rules for traveling with children to Qatar:
- up to 14 years old (if there is a photo pasted into the passport of the parent / parents), an entry permit is issued by Qatari customs officers at the airport;
- after 14 years of age, the application of a visa for children does not differ from the application of a visa for an adult;
- when traveling without parents with an accompanying person or only with the father or only with the mother, you must have with you a previously drawn up and notarized permission to leave the child.
Helpful information:
- Doha airport website - www.dohaairport.com; phone number - + 974 462 29 99.
- Qatar Consulate in Russia: Moscow, st. Koroviy Val, 7, of. 196-198.
Hello dear travelers! with stops at different airports, a common option that tourists choose, especially if the flights are long distances. Despite the difficulties associated with transfers and long connections, such travel options allow. It is also cheaper and easier to cancel or replace a one-leg ticket than a direct flight. A transfer at Doha airport is a common transit option when traveling to, or I'll tell you what to do during a transfer in Doha today in this article.
A little about the transfer itself in Doha
Previously, Qatar Airways organized free city tours for their transit customers. Currently, it costs about 30 QR or, if in dollars, about 10. Tours are held according to the schedule 4 times a day, respectively, not everyone can get in the right time period. Tours start at 8-00, 10-00, as well as 13-00 and 19-30.
Where to sleep?
There are quite a few options for sleeping. Let's start with the most ascetic.
- In the waiting room. Although the chairs here have armrests, especially flexible ones manage to take a comfortable sleeping position. In some rooms, the bed can be carpeted.
- In special "Quiet Rooms". They are separate on the basis of gender. Or joint. Rest there is free, the main thing is to be able to find a free seat.
- Lounge areas. Only cardholders will be able to relax in them for free. regular client Priority Pass... For the rest, the visit is paid. But there is a shower here.
- Transit hotel with daily payment. You can shower and sleep in it. But this is not the most economical option. As well as booking hotels outside, but very close to the airport. Prices reach $ 120 per person, and for children the price is the same.
- Qatar + program, which allows one free night or $ 100 discount for two nights at listed hotels. On the way back with a long transfer, we used this particular program and chose a hotel Radisson Blu Hotel Doha. To receive such a bonus from Qatar Airways several conditions must be met:
- It takes more than 8 hours to wait for the flight.
- The client flies the entire route with Qatar Airways.
- The class of the ticket must include the possibility of taking advantage of free accommodation. For example, promotional tickets usually do not provide such an opportunity. This should be clarified upon purchase. And it is better to send a letter to the company before the trip with a request to provide free accommodation.
Food
Previously, the Qatar airline issued special free food vouchers for customers. They were issued by special officers at the exit from the plane to those travelers who had a transfer for more than 4 hours. Currently, this option is not provided. You eat at your own expense.
At the airport, you will find many restaurants. There are many options here, from fast food restaurants to cafes with exclusively Islamic menus. True, everything is not cheap at all. For example, an average burger or a kind of shawarma will cost you $ 30-40.
In general, Doha Airport strives to provide customers with a connecting flight as comfortable as possible in the confined space of a building. Have you had experience connecting flight? How did you spend your time?
See you soon! Wishing you bright discoveries, Julia.
Hello dear travelers! Qatar and its capital Doha are often visited by tourists, passing through the country in transit, we are no exception. Therefore, a limited amount of time is usually given to sightseeing local attractions. What to see in Doha in 1 day?
A little about the city itself
Doha is a young city. Therefore, in different parts of it you can see construction cranes that are erecting another skyscraper or other building. Moreover, the next World Cup will be held here, the local population is getting ready for this event very much.
Due to the lack of land, the Qataris have learned to reclaim land from the sea and build artificial islands. For example, it is located exactly on artificial island.
The architecture of the city itself (with the exception of skyscrapers) is executed in the Islamic style of sand color. It seems that you are in the game "Prince of Persia". There is very little shade in the city, even in the parks, mostly palm trees grow here, which give little shade. But everywhere you can see images of the 4th Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
For city travel it is better to choose or. City transport is not doing very well. It is also worth considering the time of visiting the country. In summer, the temperature rises to 40 degrees and the city seems to be dying out during the day. For this very reason (and because we were with a small child who was not very good in the heat), we simply could not go out into the city, but only looked at it a little from the windows of the bus (with air conditioning) when we drove back to the airport. But the plan was drawn up by me in advance, so I will tell you where to go and what to see if you are here at other times of the year.
In winter, by the way, the thermometer will show a little above 20 degrees, but even at this temperature the sun beats down very much, so do not forget water and hats for a walk.
Visa to Qatar
In August 2017, Qatar announced a visa-free regime for 80 countries of the world for a stay of 30 days. Russia is one of these countries. Therefore, no advance is required. An entry permit can be issued upon arrival. All you need is a valid international passport and at least one free page in it for affixing stamps.
Sometimes at the border control you may be asked - where are you going to stay in Doha. In this case, show a printout of your hotel reservation, or say that you are in transit in the city and are not going to spend the night, but only to see the sights.
How to get to the center from the airport
If you have an overnight stay in the city, check with your hotel to see if they have free transfer... We stayed overnight at the Radisson Blu Hotel Doha.
Our hotel just had a free shuttle. Shuttles from the airport run every 20-30 minutes, in addition, you will be met by a special person at the airport who will take you directly to the shuttle. The buses are not big and very comfortable - with wi-fi and air conditioning.
You can also if your hotel does not have a free offer or you are not going to spend the night in the city at all. It will cost about 2,500 rubles. for the economy option.
A local taxi can take you to the center for 10 QAR (about $ 3). Another option is bus 777, which runs on the airport-center-airport route. Here, a round trip ticket will cost you the same 10 QAR.
El Corniche promenade
The embankment is long (about 7 km), stretching for several kilometers. Along the Persian Gulf, there are the best among hotels, restaurants and shops. Here you can also see beautiful sculptures, for example, the famous "Pearl of Qatar".
The waters of the Persian Gulf are striking in their color - a very beautiful emerald color of the water. We saw a little bit on our way to the airport.
The best time to walk along the embankment is in the evening. In addition to the evening coolness, tourists will be able to enjoy the chic illumination of modern buildings, which emphasizes the originality of architectural solutions.
During the day, you can go boating and see all the buildings from the water.
Museum of Islamic Art
You can reach it right along the embankment. The museum is worth visiting, even if there were no exhibits in it. It is located on an artificial island far from skyscrapers. Outwardly, it seems that the building is assembled from cubes. The museum has the same architect as the glass building of the French Louvre.
Inside, the building is striking in scale and luxury. But the luxury here is not what you usually expect from the eastern halls. The interior is very restrained, the light is muted, but the materials from which the decoration is made look expensive and stylish.
Since Qatar in the past is fishing villages and Bedouin settlements, the collection of their own exhibits is scarce. Basically, the museum presents things collected from all over the Middle East - ancient jewelry from India and Iran; oriental carpets, among them there are things of impressive size; extensive collection of coins. The advantage of this museum is that its visit is completely free.
The museum has a café with excellent views of the bay.
Fort Al Kut
The fort is also located near the waterfront. The defensive structure was built by the Turks during their reign.
But the building was never used for its intended purpose. At first, the local police were located here. Then they made a prison. Then the building was not used at all. It was only in 1978 that it was renovated and an exhibition dedicated to local crafts and the life of the indigenous Qataris was made.
Souq Waqif Market
On the way from the fort back to the waterfront, you can visit the local market. He is very colorful. The buildings of stone and wood, covered with white plaster, are difficult to distinguish from the old markets. But the market is a remake, which the authors tried to create in a classic oriental style.
Here you can buy souvenirs or just get acquainted with the handicraft creations of local craftsmen. In addition, there is an abundance of assortment standard for oriental markets: carpets, spices, sweets.
There are many cafes on the territory where you can eat inexpensively and smoke hookah.
Big mosque
The mosque is located near the palace of the emir and is considered the largest in the country. She is not old. She is not yet 100 years old. But it is distinguished by its many domes and exquisite oriental paintings on the walls.
For tourists who are not Muslims, the entrance is prohibited inside, but it is also interesting to see the mosque outside for lovers of the East. It looks especially beautiful in modern lighting at night.
Ethnographic village
Of course, it is difficult to call it a village, in the usual sense of the word. Each building here has its own style. There are many exhibition galleries, cafes and shops here. The exhibition items in the galleries tell about the peoples who inhabited the territory of Qatar before the oil boom. Their everyday life and craft skills are shown.
Mosque in the institute town
The building is striking external architecture and innovative filling inside.
Outwardly, it looks like an alien ship with a streamlined shape and two minarets, like 90-meter antennas soaring up. The walls are covered with sayings from the Koran, the illumination of the interior rooms even more reminds that the courtyard is in the 21st century and the building is located in one of the richest countries in the world.
Artificial island Pearl Qatar
The ambitious construction of a residential area began in 2004. Multi-storey houses and cottages were built on an artificial island in the Persian Gulf.
Earlier on the site of the island there was a production for the extraction and processing of pearls. By filling the island, the builders tried to preserve the local ecosystem and the purity of the bay and shores.
In addition to high-class housing, the island hosts world-class stores, restaurants and luxury hotels. The authors of the project approached the creation residential complex responsible - some neighborhoods repeat the Venetian streets with rivers and bridges, others - the French Riviera.
Gold Souk
The shop buildings look like the classic shops of the eastern markets. Getting inside, you understand that everything is organized in a modern, convenient and designed to contribute to the comfort of the buyer.
Gold is sold here bright yellow. And every piece of jewelry is inspected by the Department of Commerce. Therefore, buyers do not have to worry about the authenticity of the products.
Of course, you can't go around so many attractions in a day. I have outlined them for myself with a margin, so that there is plenty to choose from. In fact, I was planning to visit the embankment, and, if possible, the objects next to it, I noticed the rest just in case. But the weather decided otherwise for us, it also went into my lesson.
What would you choose to see?
Doha is a young city that in 40 years has grown from a fishing and pearl-collecting village into the capital of a wealthy state. Realizing that the country received all the visible wealth thanks to the discovery of oil and gas reserves, the government is trying to find other ways to replenish the budget, where the development of tourism is of particular importance.
See you soon! Wishing you bright discoveries, Julia.
