- Hayya platform is Qatar's single portal for all tourists to enter the country
- Three new categories of visitors are now eligible for Qatar’s e-visa- A1, A2 and A3
- A1 category will include all nationalities who do not qualify either for visa on arrival or visa-free entry into Qatar.
- A2 category will be GCC residents
- A3 category will be international visitors with visa or residency from Schengen, UK, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand
"The relaunched Hayya platform has become the go-to portal for travellers who require a visa to enter Qatar. Hayya platform will become the country's single portal for all tourists to enter the country,” al-Baker noted.
Qatar seeks to welcome over 6mn visitors a year by 2030: al-Baker
"Qatar’s national tourism strategy seeks to welcome over 6mn visitors a year by 2030, Qatar Tourism chairman HE Akbar al-Baker said Sunday."Qatar’s tourism sector goes from strength to strength. The arrival numbers for first quarter of 2023 has hit record numbers – over 1.16mn by the end of March. These numbers also include a very successful cruise season."Already, Qatar is considered the most open country in terms of visa facilitation in the Middle East and the 8th most open globally, with more than 95 nationalities granted visa on arrival. We are pleased that the latest developments will further cement Qatar’s position as a leading tourism destination and will provide the opportunity for even more travellers to experience the country’s truly unique touristic offering.”"This will not only provide a valuable contribution to our economy but will help create countless employment opportunities across our country,” al- Baker added.
Three new categories of visitors will now be eligible for Qatar’s e-visa. Hayya e-visa will categorise visitors based on nationality, residency or other international visa, which a traveller already has. The three new categories are A1, A2 and A3.
Explaining the three new categories who will be granted easier access, al-Baker, also Qatar Airways Group CEO, stated that the A1 category will include all nationalities who do not qualify either for visa on arrival or visa-free entry into Qatar.The A2 category will be GCC residents. From now on, GCC residents of all professions will be eligible for Qatar’s e-visa.The third category - A3 - will be international visitors with visa or residency from Schengen, UK, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. They will be eligible for Qatar’s e-visa."They (A3 category) don’t require health insurance if the stay does not exceed 30 days,” Saeed Ali al-Kuwari, CEO, Hayya Platform told Gulf Times." Streamlining Qatar’s tourist visa process comes as a step to further build on the recognition of Doha being the Arab Tourism Capital for 2023 and will offer new visitors a chance to experience what makes Qatar a one-of-a-kind destination,” al-Baker noted.Taking place with immediate effect, the launch of the well-known Hayya Platform, which allowed the entry of over a million visitors during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 tournament – and its application via smart phones, will become the single portal for all tourist and business visas to Qatar.This will unify visa processes for tourists, GCC residents and companions travelling with GCC citizens (whom are issued an Authorisation Electronic Travel permit).The latest development reflects Qatar’s keenness to continue its investment in the tourism sector, which forms an important pillar to the economy, and reflects the longer-term strategic vision to position the country as the leading tourism destination in the region.Tourists who require a visa to enter Qatar can apply through the Hayya Platform at www.hayya.qa, or through the application on their smartphones, and visit Doha, the Arab Tourism Capital of 2023.In addition, Hayya holders will enjoy seamless travel and connectivity into Qatar as Hayya will be enabled for e-gate entry at Hamad International Airport.For those entering Qatar via land at the Abu Samra border, the Hayya Platform will provide a pre-registration option for faster entry for vehicles, making the start of a weekend getaway or longer stay in Qatar even smoother and more enjoyable.For GCC nationals, the platform provides an option to apply for an entry permit for companions. The Hayya Platform also provides further services that help round out a visitor’s stay, including maps, transportation options, offers and current events.Al-Kuwari commented: "The re-launch of the Haya Platform in its new form today is an extension of the strategic vision that the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy had previously developed, a vision that centres on the sustainable legacy of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022."The launch represents a means by which we will truly sustain the legacy of the World Cup. Previously, the Hayya card allowed fans from around the world to enter Qatar to watch their favourite teams during the world’s biggest football event. Today, the Hayya Platform is the legacy, which we build upon, inviting visitors from all corners of the earth to visit our country and enjoy its authenticity, history, culture, hospitality, natural beauty and much more.”Following the unprecedented success of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Qatar has continued to welcome record-breaking numbers of tourists in the first quarter of this year.The country’s authentic culture, abundant natural beauty and world-class hospitality and leisure venues were experienced directly by international visitors during the world’s biggest sporting event late last year and witnessed by billions more remotely.Visitors to Qatar will be privy to Qatar’s recently expanded hospitality and leisure landscape, which includes beaches and resorts, such as Fuwairit Kite Beach with its pristine shores and serene waters, and West Bay Beach, which has been developed in the heart of the city.In addition, families can enjoy premium shopping and dining destinations such as ‘Printemps’ and ‘Place Vendôme’, world-class museums including the National Museum of Qatar and the recently re-opened Museum of Islamic Art, all while selecting their stay from a collection of newly opened and industry-leading international and home-grown hotels including The Ned Doha, Raffles and Fairmont Doha and The Outpost at Al Barari.
April 16, 2023 | 02:49 PM