Hamad International Airport is an international airport in Qatar that is the home of comfort, convenience, and a wide range of choices, the things that matter to today’s travelers.
This International Airport was planned to open in 2008, but because of some costly delays, the airport finally opened after 6 years on 30 April 2014 with a ceremonial Qatar Airways flight.
The international airport is named after the prior Emir of Qatar, Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and become the first Middle Eastern airport that got the prize of the Skytrax’s World Best Airport, surpassing the 7-year domination of Singapore’s Changi Airport.
Terminal Hamad International Airport
Doha Hamad Airport remains the main international gateway’s Qatar since 2014. The architecture of the airport’s building settles like an oasis for instance, roofs are wave styled and represent the coastal position of the airport.
One of the main features of the terminal is a really big bronze teddy bear statue which is created by the Swiss artist Urs Fischer. Hamad Airport includes a single passenger terminal that has three levels:
- Level 0: consisting of arrivals, ground transportation areas, Check-in, and accessing passengers to the city center from here is possible.
- Level 1: At this level after security check, there is a free Duty-Free Plaza. Also, passengers are able to go to the different gates located in the place from here.
- Level 2: This level is a transfer spot for all passengers arriving on other flights.
Hamad Airport Terminal’s concourses of first level
Hamad Airport Terminal has five concourses on its first level:
- Concourse A: It is located in the west of the check-in area. Concourse A consists of 10 gates that two of them designed for Airbus A380. The gates’ numbers are from A1 to A11.
- Concourse B: This one is in the east part of the check-in area. Concourse B has 10 gates numbered from B1 to B10.
- Concourse C: It is settled in the north of the check-in area. It has 13 gates which are located on Level 1, named from C1 to C13. There are also 9 gates on Level 0 from C20 to C29.
- Concourse D & E: Both of the concourses’ location is north of the check-in area, situated at the end of Concourse C. Both have gates 1 to 4 (D1 to D4 and E1 to E4) on the first floor and gates 20-24 (D20 to D24 and E20 to E24) on the ground floor.
Transportation Hamad Airport
From Hamad Airport, passengers can have some transport options like a rental car, taxi, bus, and metro. A rental car at the airport is the best option for getting around Doha. Official taxis get you to Doha city center within 20 minutes.
The bus station is situated outside the terminal and connects Hamad airport to various destinations all around the city. The Red Line in the metro is a great option to connect Hamad airport to the city center.
10 Things to do at Hamad Airport
If you have stopped at Hamad International Airport, you may be wondering what to do at the airport. The airport is a major transit spot that connects all continents at all hours.
Apart from snapping your selfie with the airport’s giant Teddy Bear, you can do 10 more things on a layover at Hamad Airport:
1. A bite to eat
You can find all kinds of restaurants at Hamad Airport like Middle Eastern, Arabic, American, European, International, Italian, and Seafood. For enjoying an upscale feel, go to Negroni, Soprafino, or Caviar House & Prunier’s Seafood Bar.
2. Lounge
If you’re not a First Class or Business flyer, you may think it will be hard to reach the airport lounge, but that’s not the whole story. Two airport halls allow any travelers to access the lounging area, regardless of what airline or flight class of service you are flying.
To enter, simply can use pay at the door, buy a lounge pass, or through a lounge membership program, spend your free time in the airport lounge.
3. Shopping
Travelers say that Hamad Airport is like a shopping mall, so you can spend your free time window shopping or using your credit card. You can find a wide range of anything you want, from newspaper stands to plenty of international fashionable brands.
4. Take a look at the art
Qatar Museums have created an airport small gallery featuring international and local works of art on show all over the airport. For experiencing the full museum feeling, there’s even a museum gift shop at the airport.
5. Enjoy the gym or spa
Vitality Wellbeing & Fitness Centre is located between Gates A10 and B10 in the transit hotel. It provides a wide range of facilities like an indoor pool, well-equipped gym, Squash court, and the like.
Moreover, travelers can choose from various massages and other treatments. This center is open 24 hours a day to all travelers of Hamad International Airport.
6. Be in touch with the media
For surfing the net, the airport presents free Mac computers, and also kiosks are available all around the airport. But for being in touch with family and friends or surfing the internet with your device you can use the airport’s free WiFi.
7. Take a shower
A satisfactory shower may be all you want after having a good experience in shopping, working out, or exploring around. You can use the shower inside the two airport lounges or go to the gym center at the transit hotel, between Gates A10 and B10 and take a shower.
8. Book your tour
Qatar Airways and Qatar Tourism Authority teamed up together to offer travelers a free tour of Doha. The highlights of this tour are Katara Cultural Village, the Museum for Islamic Art, and the Souq Waqif.
Four tours are available daily and you can book your favorite tour. It is a great spot to start planning your visit. You’ll also find information about services and facilities which are available inside the Hamad airport.
9. Go and visit the desert
Sand dunes are a perfect choice for when you want to go out far away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It takes at least 5 hours to visit the sand dunes near Khor Al Adaid. Many tour operators at the airport pick you up for this short trip.
10. Get some sleep
If you are flighting from a far-off place, your stop at the airport is the best opportunity to catch up on sleep. Totally, sleeping here is easy but just plan for a cold, loud, and bright airport. Several prayer rooms are quiet and some reclining chairs.
Because of gender distinction and the foot traffic, might not exactly be quiet. Furthermore, there are a couple of hotels near the airport which are suitable for rest, the close one is just a 5-minute walk.
