We are here to help you get to your destination as we count down to the much-awaited men’s FIFA World Cup 2022, where qualified teams from all over the world will congregate in Qatar to compete for the coveted trophy. Excitement and buzz are in the air, or should we say that the aura is filled with chants of Hayya Hayya. The eateries, restaurants and hotels have been filled. The investors’ interest in properties for sale in Dubai has piqued. The air is filled with excitement and enthusiasm. Whether you are a die-hard soccer fan or just like the thrill the Cup generates, there’s no denying that tourists are drawn to the quadrennial event.
So, ladies and gentlemen, brace yourself for this spectacular event and mark your calendars! The global match will commence on November 20 on a Sunday, with matches building up to the final championship match on December 18.
Brazil and England are receiving a whole lot of attention this time. Will France, which won the most recent FIFA World Cup 2022 for men in Russia in 2018, once again bring honour to their country? International soccer matches are always thrilling to see, even if you are unable to travel to Qatar. Here are all the answers to your World Cup 2022 questions, both for those who will be there in person and for those who will be watching online.
The answers to When and Where for FIFA World Cup 2022?
When does the World Cup officially begin? On Sunday, November 20, Qatar and Ecuador will play in the opening game of the 2022 World Cup, which will be preceded by an opening ceremony (at which BTS is rumoured to perform). The final game and closing ceremony will both take place on Sunday, December 18, after over a month of competition.
Qatar is the 2022 World Cup’s host country. Eight locations in the capital Doha and its neighbouring cities of Lusail, Al Khor, Al Rayyan, and Al Wakrah will host the matches. Except for the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, which was built in 1976, all of the stadiums for the Qatar World Cup were built in the previous two years specifically for the events.
Excited about getting there? Relax! Here is your guide
Reaching Qatar through the skies Qatar Airways, based in Doha, offers most flights to Qatar. Alaska Airlines, British Airways, JetBlue, American Airlines, and other airlines are partners with the airline. Only one of Qatar’s four airports, Hamad International Airport in Doha, is a global airport (DOH). From New York, Los Angeles, and London, nonstop flights to Doha take 12 hrs and 35 mins, 15 hrs, and 40 mins, respectively.
During the sports event, over 30 return flights per day between Dubai and Doha will be provided in cooperation with Qatar Airways and other GCC carriers. There will be shuttle flights starting at AED 948 for the economy and AED 3665 for business on the match days. A hand luggage allowance, an onboard snack, and free ground transfer from the airport to Doha’s stadiums are all included in the fare. The only people who may purchase tickets for these flights are those who have match-day passes.
Planning to take the road?
Football lovers with their match tickets have already started planning how to get to Qatar in November as the FIFA World Cup 2022 approaches. Some fans who want to see the most renowned and anticipated football event of the year have even booked their World Cup travel arrangements, but others have been thinking about travelling by road to Qatar. We also support them since it is the more financially viable choice given the skyrocketing cost of air travel between the UAE and Qatar.
Although it only takes one hour and fifteen minutes to fly from the UAE to Doha, prices have risen due to the increased demand for airline tickets. Instead, travelling by car to Doha is more affordable and entertaining, especially for individuals who enjoy driving.
To be exact, 693.9 kilometres separate Dubai from Doha. Therefore, it will take approximately seven hours to reach Doha from Dubai. If you are travelling from Abu Dhabi, it will take you six hours at 100km/hr.
After passing through the Ghuwaifat border post, the border crossing into Saudi Arabia on the transit road to Qatar, you will need to travel through Saudi Arabia to get to Doha. You will enter Qatar after passing Salwa, the border between Saudi Arabia and that country. You can drive without problems on the transit road, which is around 120 km long and connects these two borders. However, depending on traffic and scrutiny, border clearance in Ghuwaifat and Salwa could take up to two hours.
Criteria for crossing land borders
The Abu Samra border crossing is officially open to visitors, and with improved facilities and free parking, it can now handle 4,000 travellers per hour. If certain requirements are met, visitors arriving over the Abu Samra land border to attend one or more matches within 24 hours are permitted to enter and exit without making a hotel reservation in advance. The policies will be in effect from November 1 through December 23, which includes the full tournament, which runs from November 20 through December 18.
Qatar and Dubai hotels
For significant international sporting events like FIFA 2022, the host country spends years preparing to exhibit its best attributes. This entails constructing state-of-the-art sporting venues, upgrading the infrastructure, and investing in opulent, top-notch properties. And the investments are not confined to Qatar. Since the fans are soaring in UAE, people have also made huge investments in properties for sale in Dubai. Since this is the largest event Qatar has ever held, major American companies and global corporations invested heavily.
While brand-new establishments like the Zulal Wellness Resort and Banyan Tree Doha create a stir, the St. Regis Qatar has long been regarded as the city’s grand dame. The Marriott property is a great option to stay at during the FIFA World Cup 2022 because it is well known for having some of the top eateries in the city, including Chef Ho Yiek Chung’s modern Chinese restaurant Hakkasan. The U-shaped Katara Towers (one side is the Raffles Doha, the other the Fairmont Doha) are opening just in time for the action if you want to stay close to the Lusail Stadium, where the final match will take place. According to the property agents in Dubai and Qatar, this is a spectacular place to stay during FIFA 2022.
As far as Dubai is concerned, FIFA World Cup visitors showed high interest in Dubai real estate projects and have also invested heavily in the properties in Dubai earlier this year due to FIFA. The ones who prefer hotels for their staycation can go for Grand Cosmopolitan Hotel, Form Hotel, Pallazzo Versace or even St. Regis.
Do not worry if you are anxious about the passing time; earlier this week, thousands of hotel rooms owned by FIFA executives and organisers were opened to the public.
Travel Requirements
Your passport has to be valid for six months(minimum) following your return date to go to Qatar. Even though entering Qatar typically necessitates obtaining a tourist visa, which runs around $27, only visitors with tickets or those who someone with a ticket has authorised are permitted admission from November 1 through December 22 for the World Cup 2022. If you have a FIFA World Cup2022 game ticket or are travelling with a ticket holder, you should apply for a Hayya Card in advance of your trip. This card will function as both your entry visa and your ticket to the World Cup sites. Visitors will only be permitted in if they possess a Hayya Card.
COVID-19 travel restrictions to Qatar have also been lifted. Visitors no longer need a vaccination certificate to get in. However, they still have to sign up for Ehteraz when they arrive and show results of a negative PCR test done 48 hours before arrival or a negative rapid antigen test done 24 hours before arrival. Children under six do not need a test, but there is no need to sign up for Ehteraz for kids.
You can keep track of the most recent policies, rules, regulations, and limitations for travelling to Qatar on the Qatari government’s website.
How is the weather in Qatar and Dubai?
With an average temperature of 26 degrees Celsius in the last two months of the year, the weather is very pleasant. From November to March, the weather is moderate and perfect for vacation, despite the fact that the country may get quite hot in the summer (just picture 41 degrees Celsius).
We believe you are all set for this glitzy and buzzful global event. Just pack your bags and enjoy the event of a lifetime!
