With the start of the opening match of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, scheduled between Qatar and Ecuador at Al Bayt Stadium next Sunday, and the accompanying entertainment events, the Doha Corniche area will transform into the largest theater for live performances in the world. The tournament will end with the final game on December 18.
Vehicles will be diverted away from the Corniche area to provide a safe environment for pedestrians crossing in the Corniche area, the pier or other streets on the Corniche Road. Diversions will be made from the intersections of Ras Bu Aboud, Sheraton, Meena, Sword Arch, Al Diwan, Al Marmar, Al Maha and Barzan.
Some restrictions were set with respect to the public access to Corniche and public parks, along with the sites crowded with pedestrians. Electric scooters, motorbikes, and bicycles are banned whilst ships and boats will be allowed to operate on condition that they shall be away from the marine protected area.
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The Unavailable parking areas include Souq Waqif, Al Shouyoukh Mosque, Al Bidda parking areas opposite to Al Rayyan Street, near Al Istiqlal Street, in addition to all parking lots within the diversion area.
Central Doha and Corniche Street are designated as the most important and vital tourist attractions in Qatar. The waterfront was decorated with palm frond-shaped lighting poles that reflects the Qatari heritage. Likewise, pedestrian underpasses and plazas had been constructed to facilitate the movement of people.
Doha Corniche had been decorated through 1,440 palm frond-shaped lighting poles in harmony with the sprawling palm trees on the Corniche beach along with the provision of 655 lighting poles in central Doha area.
Doha Central and Corniche Street Development and Beautification Project provides a substantial number of parking spaces with the capacity for over 7,700 vehicles underground in different parts across the city, in addition to the construction of three pedestrian and cycle underpasses connecting between Corniche and Doha city, namely underpasses of Al Corniche, Al Bidda and Al Dafna, alongside the construction of pedestrian dedicated underpass at the Museum of Islamic Art.
The project currently is constructing a fifth pedestrian dedicated underpass, namely Khalifa underpass that links between Corniche Metro Station and the area adjacent to Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, in addition to constructing three plazas ‘Al Dafna, Al Corniche and Al Bidda’, where each plaza will be connected to a pedestrian underpass reaching Corniche from Doha city.
Over 137,000sqm. of green areas were also planted, including 940 trees and 920 palm trees on Corniche Street, and 17,000sqm of green areas with over 1,360 trees planted in central Doha area.
Pedestrian dedicated tracks and crossings were provided along with cycle tracks connecting all vital centres with each other in the area, including a 7km jogging track, and 1km pedestrian and cycles tracks in Central Doha area that were specifically designed for persons with disabilities.
Major events in Corniche area include giant display screens to broadcast football matches in several areas in Doha and across the country and fan zones, musical festivals, cultural activities, and street fairs from around the world. The entertainment shows in Corniche area are the most important events Qatar will witness during the tournament, bringing a pretty and special carnival atmosphere for 6km from the Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel to Museum of Islamic Art Park.
A wide range of entertainment and cultural events and activities will be organised for the public. The entertainment events programme includes over 90 special events that are poised to be organised on the sidelines of the tournament.
Over 120,000 people are anticipated to visit the area at the busiest times of the entertainment events program, therefore the Corniche-specific program will feature performances by performance artists, cultural events, food and beverage kiosks, and stores.
At the FIFA Fan Festival, which will take place in Al Bidda Park on the Doha Corniche, World Cup games will be shown on enormous screens alongside notable performances and shows, cultural activities, a number of events and activities put on by the tournament sponsors, as well as food and beverage stands.
