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As Qatar gears up for the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup, the excitement amongst all football fans is palpable. The 22nd FIFA World Cup is scheduled to begin on the 20th of November and go on till the 18th of December at the Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, Qatar.

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Here are some interesting facts about the 2022 World Cup:

1. It is the first World Cup ever to be held in an Arab country.
2. A win for Asian countries, it is the second World Cup to be held entirely in Asia.
3. This is the last World Cup that will have a 32-team field. The field is expected to increase to 48 teams for the 2026 World Cup.
4. Due to Qatar’s intense summer heat, this is the first World Cup that is not being held in the summer months of May- June and is being held now in November – December.
5. The final match is scheduled to be held on the 18th of December, which is also Qatar’s National Day!

Are you a football fan and planning to catch the action live in Qatar? Here’s a go-to reference travel checklist to enjoy your stay in the country during the tournament.

1) Passport

Go to your nearest outsourced passport and visa agency, and apply for your passport if you haven’t already got one.

2) Buy your match tickets and flight tickets. 

Buy and secure your FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 match tickets and book your flights before they are sold out.

3) Apply for your Hayya Card

The Hayya Card is a Qatar entry permit for international fans and is needed to enter the stadiums. Apply for it using the Hayya portal or by downloading the Hayya to Qatar 2022 app. This card also lets you travel for free on public transport from the 10th of November to the 23rd of December.

It is advisable to apply for the card in advance to allow time for your application to be confirmed. The current processing time is up to 5 days.

Is the Hayya card the same as a visa for Qatar? No, it is not. However, international visitors travelling to Qatar for the FIFA World Cup will require to apply for the Hayya card.

4) Download the following mobile apps

1. Hayya – Download this app once you have applied for the Hayya Card and activate your profile to receive your card.
2. Ehteraz– A covid-19 status tracing app. This should be downloaded and ready on your phone upon arrival at the airport. This app generates a QR code that shares your vaccination status, risk of contagion, and more.

The World Cup will kick-start on the 20th of November in the city of Al Khor, and we advise you to travel here a day before the tournament so that you know your way around the city and can perhaps even manage to squeeze in some sightseeing!

A little about Al Khor

A coastal city in northern Qatar, Al Khor is located 50 km from the capital city of Doha.

Some of the attractions in Al Khor apart from the newly built Al Bayt stadium are:

1. The Al Sultan Beach Hotel and Resort – A palace that has now been converted into a hotel.
2. The Al Khor Archaeological Museum – houses artifacts and maritime exhibits on fishing and shipbuilding.
3. The Al Khor park – One of the largest parks in Qatar with an area of 240,000sqm. The park is home to a mini golf course, a railway station, and a museum.
4. The Al Khor Towers – Built in the late 19th century, these are three historic watchtowers whose primary purpose was to provide a vantage point and to watch for potential attacks.

If you desire a longer vacation to Qatar with friends and family, apart from catching the football mania, do apply for your Qatar visa from an outsourced visa service provider like BLS International and plan a week-long vacation! Here are some places that you can explore in the capital city of Doha.

1. Souq Waqif 

Based in Doha, no trip to the capital is complete without visiting Souq Waqif. Known for amazing shopping and dining experiences, the souq enthrals you with its magnificence. Experience the best of both worlds- traditional and contemporary Qatar as you shop for art, spices, perfumes, and embroideries.

2. Doha Corniche

As the name suggests, the Cornice Park and promenade is based in Doha and offers some breath-taking views of the city’s skyline. A great place for bikers, joggers, and walkers, the waterfront promenade is 7 kms long, starting from the Museum of Islamic Art to the Sheraton Doha Resort.

3. National Museum of Qatar

Designed by the Pritzker-Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel, the National Museum of Qatar, Doha, represents the naturally occurring crystal formations known as the desert rose. The museum and its architecture are an amalgamation of Qatar’s heritage and its future. The museum exhibits archaeological and heritage objects, manuscripts, photographs, jewellery, and clothes from yesteryear.

One of the most popular exhibits at the museum is the pearl carpet of Baroda, which was commissioned by the Maharaja of Baroda, India, in 1865. The carpet comprises 1.5 million pearls as well as diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and sapphire set-in gold and woven on a base of silk and deer hide.

Some nearby places from Doha

4. Al Zubarah Fort 

A UNESCO World Heritage site, the 20th-century fort is the youngest and the most prominent feature of the coastal town of Al Zubarah. A typical example of an Arab fort, it houses residential palaces, mosques, courtyard houses, fishermen’s huts, a harbour, a canal, and cemeteries.

The fort overlooks the ruins of a once bustling pearling and trading town that bears its scars of powerful empires fighting for regional dominance in the 18th century. Today the fort has been transformed into a museum.

5. Dahl Al Misfir

Located west of Doha and in the centre of the peninsula, Dahl Al Misfir is Qatar’s most popular natural site. A 40 metres deep cave is situated here – the largest, deepest, yet accessible.

The cave formed by a fibrous growth of gypsum is said to have been formed 325,000 to 500,000 years ago during the mid-Pleistocene era. The luminescence of the gypsum gives the cave an otherworldly glow.

We hope this article has you looking forward to your trip and will help you plan your stay in Qatar during the World Cup. Please apply for the requisites in advance or connect with us on our website, www.blsinternational.com, to learn more!

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