Things You Should Know Before Traveling To Qatar during the 2022 World Cup

For Qatar’s month-long football festival, more than a million World Cup fans are preparing to fly to the Gulf. The social mores and religious practises in the Middle East are likely to be different from those in other regions because this World Cup is the first to be staged there.

The 2022 Qatar World Cup, which is anticipated to gather more than a million soccer fans from all over the world, is less than 50 days away. The FIFA tournament kicks off on November 20; this is the first time a Middle Eastern country has served as the host. Local and international sports fans are getting ready for the month-long frenzy.

But what expectations should international football fans have of the competition?

Here are a few things that you should know before traveling to Qatar during the 2022 World Cup.

Occasions for fans

Once the first game is played in Doha, fans will congregate in Al Bidda Park, which is near the Corniche in the city’s centre, during the tournament. The Al Maha Arena, which will host live concerts, and Al Maha Island in Lusail, where a beach festival is being organised with concerts, entertainment, and food and drink outlets, will also broadcast games for fans.

Fans are welcome to watch live games at the Fan Village Cabins Free Zone if they have hotel reservations at the official fan villages outside of Doha. A World Cup match ticket includes a complimentary Hayya Fan ID card that enables use of the Doha Metro system. The eight locations where the 64 games will be played are all within a one-hour drive of Doha’s city centre.

Hayya Card

To enter Qatar, visitors must obtain a Hayya card, a fan ID that also serves as their entry visa and entitles them to free public transit. The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy established a special service centre for owners of Hayya cards in order to help spectators at the Ali bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena. Fans can pick up a hard copy of their digital Hayya card if they still want to use transportation services or fan zones despite not having a mobile phone. The centre will open at 10 a.m. through December 23 to 10 p.m. every day except Fridays, when it opens at 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Alcohol

Alcohol is offered in a large number of hotels and legal restaurants across the country in addition to being accessible in fan zones at particular times. Alcohol sales in fan zones may be less expensive than in hotels, and tokens used to purchase drinks will probably be converted into local currency. Alcohol cannot be brought into the country. Because only homeowners are allowed to purchase alcohol from specialised outlets for home use, fans will not be allowed to consume it outside of authorised locations.

Covid-19

Anyone travelling to the World Cup who is six years of age or older must present documentation of a negative coronavirus test when they arrive at the airport before their trip, even if a vaccination is not required to enter Qatar. If taking an official negative Rapid Antigen Test, a PCR test result must be obtained no later than 24 hours before departure, or no later than 48 hours before departure. Self-evaluations won’t be done.

If you test positive while visiting Qatar, fans should make sure their travel insurance will cover any necessary hotel stays to isolate. World Cup guests with Hayya cards are exempt from the pre-entry online registration procedure that is in place for locals and GCC citizens on the Ehteraz website operated by the Qatari government. Similar to the UAE, only medical facilities and public transit require masks.

Safety for your health

The cost of a health insurance premium for travellers to Qatar will now be about $13, according to The Official Gazette of Qatar (QR50). The cost will not change if the visa is extended. The cost of health insurance covers basic services including emergency and accident care.

Clothing

Respecting local customs is expected to be one of the major challenges for the enormous number of visitors to Qatar during the World Cup. Hotel pools and beaches allow bathing suits, however visitors are advised to cover their shoulders and knees when visiting public areas like government buildings and museums. The much-publicized air-conditioned stadiums are designed to keep fans at a reasonable temperature and restrict shirt removal inside of them. November’s average outdoor temperature is around 26 degrees Celsius, although it could be as high as mid-thirties.

Public displays of affection

Visitors are urged to limit their displays of affection in public during the World Cup. Although cohabitation between unmarried couples is forbidden by Qatari law, unmarried friends of different genders or couples are allowed to share a room during the tournament.

Photography

Given the hordes of spectators who post about their experiences on social media, it might be challenging to enforce Qatar’s strict laws around privacy and photography. The event’s organisers advised attendees to practise “common politeness” and ask permission before taking pictures or films of other people. Fans should be made aware that taking pictures inside of any government buildings, including military bases, offices, and industrial areas, is completely prohibited.

E-cigarettes

The Ministry of Public Health of Qatar issued a total ban on the sale of vapes in 2014. The customs division at Hamad International Airport was also instructed not to allow the import of e-cigarettes, along with Qatar’s maritime and land borders. Despite this, a substantial population still uses e-cigarettes frequently without suffering any negative effects, indicating that there may be some wiggle room in the situation. It will not be lawful to purchase vape refills or associated products while in Qatar.

Working week

Qatar’s work week starts on a Sunday after a weekend of Friday and Saturday. Some services might have shorter hours on Fridays because it’s a holy day. Banks and numerous stores are included in this.