Doha’s Hamad International Airport (HIA) in Qatar constantly ranks among the many world’s prime airports and is a rising favourite amongst passengers. It’s not a foul place to be caught at throughout a layover or flight delay, with loads to see, eat, and do—from the plush 6,500-square-foot “Orchard” indoor tropical backyard and world-class up to date artwork assortment, to a rising menu of regional dishes and delicacies.
In 2025 greater than 56 million passengers handed by this architectural marvel with Qatar Airways or with the ever increasing listing of regional and worldwide carriers that now fly out and in of Doha. Driving this development is the current opening of two new concourses—D and E—including a formidable 55,000 sq. toes (a rise of 20%) to the ground house.
With greater than 60 retail and eating venues, this development has given vacationers much more selections for a way to spend their time. While extra sprawling than ever (be warned, the brand new D and E concourses generally is a hike from the central safety space, the airport continues to be a single, simply navigable terminal, full with an indoor practice to velocity you to the additional reaches.
This story has been up to date with new data since its unique publication date.
Lounge life
If you might be lucky to be touring premium class on Qatar Airways, the award-winning lounges must be your first port of name. Al Safwa Lounge, reserved for first class passengers, is the head; the doorway to the hushed cavernous house is by a discrete elevator. This will get you to the spacious restaurant-style eating room the place you possibly can order Champagne and poached lobster, maki rolls from the sushi bar, and eggs Benedict for breakfast. Meanwhile, the Al Mourjan South Lounge for business class ticket holders has an off-the-cuff café-style house turning out freshly made toasted sandwiches, an upstairs á la carte restaurant, and a buffet of worldwide and Arabic dishes. If your departure gate is additional afield, take the airport practice to the second enterprise class lounge, the plush 7,950-square-foot Al Mourjan The Garden. Here, there’s additionally a sushi bar, a patisserie worthy of a Parisian sojourn, a restaurant, and a buffet (and a la carte) with a revolving number of regional and worldwide choices. Sink into the cozy chairs going through the Orchard or head to the Louis Vuitton Lounge positioned inside for Arabic espresso and decadent desserts. Not flying premium or jetting out on one other airline? You pays to entry the Al Maha Lounges, there at the moment are three throughout the airport, providing a cushty house and refreshments.
Qatari flavors
You could be passing by Doha, however you possibly can nonetheless seize a style of Qatar’s distinctive delicacies thanks to HIA’s dedication to promote Qatari culture and traditions. The newly opened Daily Chef Noof on Concourse A, is helmed by famed Qatari chef Noof Al Marri and presents a style of the peninsula’s hospitality. Sample Qatari favorites just like the comforting rooster madrouba (which interprets to overwhelmed rice); hearty machboos with domestically caught hamour (baked fish and rice), and oven-fresh spinach stuffed pastries. At Baladna Express you possibly can attempt a freshly grilled shawarma—juicy spiced slices of rooster wrapped in recent bread with pickles and a garlicky sauce (lots of the merchandise used right here, together with the cheese, are grown and made in Qatar). Also positioned alongside Concourse C is Evergreen Organics—a department of Qatar’s first plant-based café. The chilly pressed juices and the turmeric oat lattes are excellent gas to your flight, and you probably have extra time, the avocado and tomato toast with a sprinkle of cashew cheese is a savory delight.
Gifts to go
Carry a style of Qatar again dwelling with you. Also positioned within the Souq Al Matar, which is a reproduction of a standard Qatari market, is Dukkan. This quirky spot, designed to seem like a neighborhood store, sells a few of Qatar’s favourite snacks, like packets of crunchy salty Pafki chips and Jellopy fruit gums. Nearby is Fwala, a Qatari dialect phrase for a dessert assortment served to company. This spot shares sweets like halwa, a form of nutty fudge, in addition to dates and spices offered packed and ready-to-go, excellent for journey presents.
Café tradition
Qatar is a rustic of espresso lovers and there’s a rising choice of cafes on provide at HIA. Local pioneer of this full of life café scene Flat White Specialty Coffee has opened a department on Concourse C. Grab considered one of their much-loved Spanish Lattes (espresso with condensed milk); or linger over considered one of their artistic sandwiches or candy treats. Joining them is Le Petit Camion, one other Qatari model, serving up espresso and snacks on Concourse D with their distinctive buttery yellow backdrop. Meanwhile Le Petit Belge on Concourse A, permits you to take pleasure in gastropub-style moule frites, waffles and extra between flights. And, Ralph’s Coffee can be a trendy pre-flight pit cease, with the same old espresso and candy snack providing in addition to packs of take-home roasted beans.
Luxury indulgences
If your journey plans aren’t taking you to London on this journey, you possibly can nonetheless pattern one of many UK capital’s most iconic eating experiences: afternoon tea at Harrods. But, in Doha. Located simply to the left of the Lamp Bear, the Harrod’s Tea Room comes full with scones, inexperienced jacketed attendants, and naturally, pots of tea curated by their in-house “Tea Tailor.” For these early flights, breakfast is served from 4 a.m. to a leisurely 11 a.m. and options at least six sorts of egg dishes alongside pastries. All day eating in fact consists of the famed afternoon tea—which arrives in a three-tiered stand, with dainty sandwiches, fluffy scones with strawberry jam, and the silky Devonshire cream.