Doha’s Hamad International Airport (HIA) has won a lot of accolades since its opening in 2014. This includes Best Airport in the Middle East, one of the top airports in the world, and Global 5-Star Airport rating. It is also Qatar’s main gateway to the world. And with the incoming FIFA World Cup in 2022 hosted by one of the richest countries in the world, it will get even more traffic as the world discovers what the small nation state offers.
Where is Hamad International Airport?
HIA is located at Doha. It is Doha, Qatar’s only international airport and known by the IATA airport code: DOH. It opened in April 2014, replacing the old Doha International Airport.
The airport overlooks the Arabian Gulf and near Banana Island Resort.
How to go around Hamad International Airport?
Feeling lost? Take a look at the maps here. Or approach any Information Desk or HIA employee.
And because the airport is quite big, there is plenty of ‘walkalators‘ (moving walkway/autowalk) as well as passenger trains that can take you from the north to the south side of the terminal in 90 seconds.
If you’re departing, you can board the train behind the Lamp Bear (South). The train operates 24 hours a day and available for both departures and arrival.
How to check flight status
You can check your flight status here. Or by checking the large screens in the check-in area.
Is there free Wi-Fi?
Yes, Hamad International Airport offers complimentary wireless internet access. You can connect through your device or through the free internet kiosks/desks with screens and keyboards throughout the airport. Free after submitting information through the form.
You can also download the HIA Qatar mobile app to help you navigate the airport. [iOS | Android]
Network: HIAQatar Complimentary WiFi
How to use the E-gates
E-gates can be used for both departures and arrivals and is available for Qatari citizens and residents. They are definitely faster than the normal immigration queue. If this is your first time using the E-gates, you have to go through registration/activation first. You can do this in the Enrollment section facing immigration. Ready your passport and QID. Lines can also get long for registration but it does move fast.
All citizens and residents above 18 can make use of e-gates at the entry or exit @HIAQatar, free of cost. Just follow the steps. #MoI_Qatar pic.twitter.com/HoMbLDZacr
— Ministry of Interior (@MOI_QatarEn) 21 de agosto de 2017
Art Installations
What to do inside the airport besides wait for your flight and shopping/eating? Well, you can also do a DIY tour and look for the art installations scattered throughout the airport. These public art are made by local and regional artists as well as international artists and placed in the airport in collaboration with Qatar Museums.
If you’re departing, you will see a big pot of orchids in bronze coated in white before getting into passport control. It is called Arctic Nurseries of El Dorado by Marq Quinn.
Near the Economy class entrances, you can see the Flying Man by Dia al-Azzawi, an Iraqi artist. They are installed in the Arrivals Meet and Greet Hall.
The most popular of course is the giant yellow teddy bear with a lamp in the middle of the Concourse area (South Node). It is created by Urs Fischer and has a height of 23 feet. It’s made out of cast bronze and weighs more than 20 tons. It is said that Untitled Lamp Bear was bought by the royal family for $6.8 million dollars.
Along the C gates, you will see eight bronze sculptures called Other Worlds by Tom Otterness. These gigantic figures are interactive and both adults and kids can enjoy playing with them.
The newest one is by KAWS called Small Lie which stands 32 feet tall. You can find it in concourse E.
Also located in the Arrivals Meet and Greet Hall are 8 bronze Oryxes by Dutch Artist Tom Claasen. The Oryx is the national animal of Qatar.
You can find more art installations in HIA and read about them here.
Restaurants
Doha Airport’s Eat Street is where you’ll find most of the dining outlets. You can choose from the following in the food court:
- Burger King
- Red Mango
- Negroni
- Camden Food
- Azka
- Soho Coffee
- Illy Cafe
Other cafe and restaurants you can find in the airports:
- Argo Tea Cafe – Arrivals area
- Jamocha Cafe – Concourse B & C
- Red Restaurant – Concourse D
- Soprafino – Duty Free, departures
- Farggi – Arrivals area
- Le Grand Comptoir – Departures area
- The Cafe – Departures area
- Qataf Cafe – Departures area
- Harvest Market – Departures area
- Marche
- Yum Cha – Departures area
- The Burger Federation
- Spizzico – between Gates D & E
- Starbucks
- Coffeeshop Company – Concourse C
- Del Monte F&B – Concourse A
- In-Q Cafe – Departures area
- Caviar House & Prunier
Lounges
Available lounges inside the airport are the following:
- Al Safwa First Lounge – This lounge has a 250 seating capacity restaurant, state of the art facilities, luxury spa, nap rooms, and interiors inspired by the design of the Museum of Islamic Art. Available for First Class guests of Qatar Airways and Oneworld. Check review here.
- Al Mourjan Business Lounge – Like Al Safwa, this lounge also offers world-class dining and facilities (including showers) plus luxurious interiors. Available for Qatar Airways and Oneworld First Class and Business Class. Qatar Airways Economy Class can purchase access.
The following lounges also have shower facilities, smoking areas, business centre, premium food, and seating areas:
- First Class Lounge – Accessible to Platinum QR Privilege Club Members with First Class ticket or Oneworld Emerald member.
- Business Class Lounge – Accessible to Qatar Airways Gold and Silver members as well as oneworld Sapphire frequent flyers.
- Al Maha Services Lounges – You can avail of their Meet and Assist Services here. If you have a Diners Club, Priority Pass, and/or Lounge Key, you can use the lounge for free for up to 4 hours.
- Oryx Lounge – This shared lounge used by other airlines departing HIA also offers lockers and gaming facilities. Walk-ins are accepted and access can be purchased for QAR200 (maximum of 6 hours).
- Unaccompanied Minors Lounge
- Special Assistance Travellers’ Lounge
Qatar Duty Free and Shopping
There is no shortage of shopping to be had at Hamad International Airport’s Duty Free from beauty products, perfumes, electronics & gadgets, fashion, accessories, toys, luggage, jewelry, gourmet food, and other travel related items. There is also the one-of-a-kind Qatar Airways Travel Boutique where guests can experience an A380 First Class seat.
If you’re on transit or layover…
Oryx Airport Hotel
If you’re a transit passenger with a valid onward ticket, you can book a stay for as short as 8 hours. They also offer in-house food and beverages.
Aside from 5 kinds of room options, the hotel also offers guests a fully equipped gym, swimming pool, squash court, and golf simulator through the Vitality Wellbeing & Fitness Centre, which they can access free of charge.
Walk-in passengers, meanwhile, can avail of spa treatments (facials and massage), and use of golf simulator and squash court for a fee.
CHECK ORYX AIRPORT HOTEL RATES
Where to take a shower?
If you want to take a shower or go for a swim in the pool of Vitality Wellbeing & Fitness Centre (4th floor of Oryx Airport Hotel), you can just walk-in and pay 175 QAR (as of April 2019).
This fee also entitles you to use the gym, hydrotherapy tubs (separate for male and female), and shower rooms.
Vitality Spa’s indoor swimming pool is 25 meters long, more than a meter deep, and temperature controlled.
If you just want to shower and have access to the spa, you need to pay 90 QAR for a 40-minute time limit.
How to get there? Take the elevator behind Lamp Bear to the 4th floor.
Doha City Tour
Qatar Airways used to offer free city tours for passengers with more than 5 hours of transit time through Discover Qatar. But now they charge a fee for it at 75 QAR. Other tours are also available and can be booked at least 48 hours in advance online prior to arrival.
Smoking Areas
There are designated smoking rooms in the airport, just look out for the smoking sign on the door. You can check the maps to see where is the nearest smoking area closest to your location. There are also designated smoking rooms in the lounges.
Smoking rooms near Gate A1, B1, C4, C13, D20, E20, C13, E1, and at Duty Free
Getting out of HIA
By Taxi: You can get a taxi any time of the day by going down to the Arrivals Hall and looking for the Taxi Area. You can get a Karwa, which is the official taxi company here in Qatar. You can also book a cab through Uber, Karwa, or Careem.
Flag rate from the airport is 25 QAR. If you’re not booking through an app, always make sure they will use the meter or tell them you will call the police.
By Bus: You can ride the Mowasalat Buses outside the Arrivals Hall, just follow the sign.
Getting to HIA: How to get to Hamad Airport
By Bus: You can take a Mowasalat Bus to the airport through bus routes 109, 727, 737, 747, 777. Learn more about bus routes here. Bus fares can be paid only using a Karwa Smartcard which, if you don’t yet have, you can purchase directly from the bus driver.
By Taxi: You can hail any Karwa taxi from the street or book an Uber, Careem, or Karwa to take you to the airport.
By Car: Easy to get to the airport since Qatar is just small. Just follow the directions using Google Maps
Hotels near Hamad International Airport
Check here if you want to know the nearest hotels near Doha’s airport.
Have you been to Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar?
Elena
May 3, 2019 at 3:15 pmTime flies. I landed in Hamad Airport when it just opened (was it five years ago by now?). Glad to see that the yellow bear is still there. It is, perhaps, the most colorful memory of my overnight layover there. The business class lounge was served the purpose (ate there twice and a refreshing shower was so good). In hindsight, I regard it as one of my favorite airports to date.
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