World Cup Qatar 2022, the world’s biggest sporting event, is coming to the world’s smallest country. The World Cup will be hosted by Qatar for the first time in history. The event will take place in stadiums and other facilities at Doha and Al Wakrah.
Traveling to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup is a big deal. Read about the safety precautions being taken by travelers to ensure their safety during these events.
Flights to Qatar:
Most flights to Qatar are operated by Qatar Airways, headquartered in Doha. The airline partners with Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways, and JetBlue, among others. Of the four airports in Qatar, only one is international: Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH). Non-stop flights to Doha take 12 hours 35 minutes from New York, 15 hours 40 minutes from Los Angeles, and 6 hours 35 minutes from London.
What can you do in Qatar?
All international travelers to Qatar must pass through Doha, and that’s a good thing: the city is full of fantastic hotels, world-class restaurants, and cultural attractions. For starters, much has been done on the museum front: the Jean Nouvel-designed Qatar National Museum will open in 2019, the Olympic Theme Museum opened in April ahead of the Cup, and the new Museum of Islamic Art, which helped establish Doha as a creative hub, opened in October in a five-story limestone building designed by I.M. Pei.
After admiring the above attractions, be sure to shop at Souq Waqif, a century-old shopping mall, or book a day for a desert safari and get out of town.
Qatar hotels:
As with most major international sporting events, the host country prepares for years to showcase the best of its nation. This usually involves improving infrastructure, building world-class sports facilities and, of course, investing in first-class luxury accommodations. As Qatar’s biggest event, American heavyweights and international brands have piled into the event.
While new establishments like the Banyan Tree Doha and Zulal Wellness Resort are making major efforts, the big name in town has long been the St Regis Qatar. The Marriott property is known for housing some of the best restaurants in the city center, such as chef Ho Yiek Chung’s modern Chinese restaurant Hakkasan, making it an ideal choice. If you want to be closer to Lusail Stadium, where finals and important matches are played, the U-shaped architectural masterpiece of Katara Towers (Raffles Doha on one side, Fairmont Doha on the other) opens just in time for the start of the game. Or visit the Waldorf Astoria Lusail Doha, scheduled to open in October 2023.
Restaurants in Qatar:
If you want to grab a quick bite to eat at the hotel between games, you might want to think twice. The restaurant scene in Doha has been undergoing something of a renaissance of late (not unrelated to the aforementioned investments that have been pumped into all areas of the restaurant industry in anticipation of the soccer World Cup). In the form of Qatari street food, you’ll find local specialties like spicy karak tea and matchbooks (reminiscent of biryani), but also more sophisticated dishes at restaurants like Jiwan by Alain Ducasse, which serves Qatari dishes with a French twist (e.g. strawberry and labneh desserts). Of course, international dishes are not to be outdone, like Syrian cuisine at Damasca One and Sri Lankan cuisine at the trendy Nourlaya. And if you are looking for a good hotel restaurant? Then don’t miss Jean-George Vongerichten’s Curiosa Sudamericana at the Four Seasons Hotel West Bay or Gaston Acurio’s Ceviche-Port La Mar at the InterContinental.
What are the requirements for travel to Qatar?
In terms of standard requirements for travel to Qatar, your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your return date. Although Qatar normally requires a tourist visa for entry (the cost is about $27), during the 2022 World Cup, from November 1 to December 22, only ticketed travelers or those issued a permit by a ticketed person will be allowed entry. If you have a ticket to a World Cup match or are traveling with a ticketed person, obtain a Hayya card before traveling: it will serve as an entry visa for the country and access to World Cup stadiums (travelers without a Hayya card will not be allowed to enter).
In addition, COVID-19-related travel restrictions for U.S. visitors to Qatar have largely been lifted: A vaccination card or negative test result is no longer required for entry. Travelers are no longer required to use the Ehteraz health certificate upon arrival but must present it upon entry to public or private health facilities.
For up-to-date information on travel conditions and restrictions in Qatar, visit the Qatar website.
Travel Insurance :
Visitors are strongly advised to purchase comprehensive travel insurance before … Purchase comprehensive travel insurance.
Qataris to choose. The cost of emergency medical treatment in Qatar can be very high, especially during the World Cup.
Not all policies are the same, and the cheapest one may be more expensive for a specific reason.
Make sure your policy covers all the activities you intend to do during your trip.
Keep the policy information and contact information of the insurer before you start your trip. More information is available here.
What is the weather like in Qatar?
In November and December, the temperatures are very pleasant, with an average of 79 degrees Fahrenheit. During the summer months, Qatar is quite hot (up to 106 degrees Fahrenheit), but from November to March, the weather is warm and perfect for travel.
What is the Qatari currency?
The Qatari riyal is the official currency of this Middle Eastern country. At the time of publishing this article, the exchange rate is 1 USD = 3.64 QAR. As always, when traveling abroad, plan on spending at least US$50-100 per person per day: you never know if a restaurant will accept your credit card or if it will be difficult to find an ATM.
