Overview

Hamad International Airport (HIA) is Qatar’s new airport and opened in 2014. It is located next to its capital Doha and the Arabian Gulf. HIA is the home of Qatar Airways and serves over 360,000 flights and 30 million passengers per year. HIA has earned a five star Skytrax rating.

In response to Covid-19, hand sanitizer stations were placed throughout the airport, with frequent sanitizing of any passenger touch points, and disinfection of all passenger luggage. There are mobile disinfection robots that emit concentrated UV light that eliminates the majority of infectious organisms, enforcement of physical distancing, thermal screening, and the implementation of contactless technologies.

HIA offers a plethora of services, including ones geared towards those with special needs and unaccompanied minors, as well as multiple recreational facilities spanning shopping, dining, and leisure. Those with special needs are entitled to reserved parking space, barrier free access through a network of things like elevators and ramps, adapted check in counters, a dedicated lounge, and complimentary wheelchairs and adapted washrooms. Shops at HIA include the Qatar Duty Free store as well as luxury brands such as Burberry London and Bulgari. Dining options are vast and range from fast food chains like Burger King all the way to big name branches like Harrods Tea Room. Leisure facilities include world class lounges and art exhibitions. HIA also houses one of the most sophisticated cargo terminals in the industry. Its cargo terminal has the capacity to process 1.4 million tonnes of cargo per year. The facility incorporates warehouse spaces, automated systems/retrieval systems, offices and shops. It covers 55,000 square meters, has 11 wide body freighter aircraft stands and 42 airside loading docks. In addition, it also consists of 31 landside truck loading facilities that can assist in the fast and efficient transfer of cargo both in and out of Qatar.