According to the Qatar News Agency, Qatar will begin welcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 fans on November 1, 2022, and will continue to do so till the end of the competition. The restrictions that would be put into effect after travellers arrived at the Abu Samra border crossing were revealed by Qatar’s interior ministry in a press conference on Sunday.
Depending on the category of Hayya card you possess, different procedures and qualifications must be met.
Here is a summary of the specifics.
Crossing through the Abu Samra border crossing
Saudi Arabia and Qatar are connected by the Abu Samra border crossing. You must first travel to Saudi Arabia and proceed toward the border town of Salwa in order to cross through the Abu Samra border.
The Ministry of Interior reports that plans have been made for free transportation from the border crossing to the Al Messila neighbourhood in the heart of Doha and the family and friends neighbourhood in Al Qalayel, which is two kilometres away. There, visitors can communicate with friends or family to arrange for a ride into the nation or take a private taxi.
It is recommended that visitors use the same passport they used to register on the Hayya Portal. The specifics of how each category can enter through the Abu Samra crossing are as follows.
The Hayya card, a personalised ID given to fans at FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 games, is provided by FIFA (Fédération internationale de Football Association). On game days, entrance to the stadium requires both a Hayya card and the appropriate match tickets. For the duration of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, only one Hayya card is necessary per individual.
1. GCC residents
GCC nationals, GCC residents, and owners of Qatari QIDs will be permitted to visit the country as usual. However, the vehicles that transport them had to be outfitted with Qatari licence plates. It is not necessary in this situation to carry a Hayya card.
2. What if one wants to enter with their own vehicle?
The Ministry of Interior states that in order for fans to enter with their own private vehicles, they must first get an entry permit for a vehicle that has been authorised through the Hayya portal.
You must make an approved accommodation reservation through the Hayya portal for a minimum of five nights in order to obtain an admission permit (for the driver only). Moreover, the Hayya portal must have been used to submit the application for vehicle entrance permission. An email with a link to purchase the vehicle’s insurance will be provided to the applicant after approval. After obtaining insurance, you must continue the permit-issuing procedure by paying the required fees of 5,000 Qatari Riyals (Dh5,043) within 24 hours. This payment is not transferable.
In addition, if they are all Hayya card holders, there should be a minimum of three and a maximum of six passengers in the vehicle.
The applicant can only utilise the entry permission once because, in QNA’s opinion, it is not a multiple-entry permit.
The restriction of traffic in various regions and on some roads throughout the tournament has also been warned to motorists, along with guidelines for driving in banned areas.
3. If one is only coming for a day – ‘one-day fan’ category
The third category, which was only open to supporters who wanted to go to Qatar for a single day to watch the tournament, was made public by the interior ministry of Qatar. In this situation, people are free to visit and leave Qatar without the requirement to make hotel reservations in advance. However, they must be owners of a Hayya card that falls into the “one-day fan” category, and they must have registered parking spaces for their cars on the Hayya portal before travelling to Qatar.
The first 24 hours of use of the parking spaces are free; however, the second day requires payment of a service fee of QR1,000 (Dh1,008). If a vehicle stays parked for more than 48 hours after entering, it will be town, and a towing fee of QR1,000 (Dh1,008) will need to be paid. The fan’s registered email address on the Hayya platform will be used to send him or her a link that will enable electronic payment.
Starting on November 1, 2022, the Hayya card will be required to utilise the parking bay reservation service.
4. Fans arriving through buses
Those travelling by bus fall under the fourth category; for entry into Qatar, each passenger must have a Hayya card. If you plan to use such a bus service, you must finish the admission procedures at the bus service’s arrival terminal. The buses will then travel to Doha Central Station, which is located near Al Messila. You can alternatively disembark at the Al Qalayel receiving area for friends and family located outside the Abu Samra port.
5. Humanitarian cases
The Ministry also announced details for the fifth category of fans – humanitarian cases of those who do not hold a Hayya card. They must use the Ministry’s website, www.moi.gov.qa, to submit the permit application. The Ministry will handle the request, and applicants can anticipate hearing back within six hours. You will receive the approval through email if the conditions are satisfied and the permit is approved. However, the authorization is only valid for one entry into Qatar, and applicants are limited to doing so through an airport.
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