Locals are advised to utilize private transportation to travel to tournament locations, while visitors are encouraged to use public transportation when attending the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Prior to the event, the organizers provided locals and tourists with important information during a press conference yesterday. Fans will have a variety of transportation options upon arrival at Hamad International Airport and Doha International Airport, including shuttle buses, the Doha Metro, taxis, and ride-hail services, like Uber and Careem. Shuttle buses will run from both airports, assisting visitors in getting to their lodging and tourism destinations in the heart of Doha.
The press conference was addressed by Eng Mohamed Ali Al Marri from Ashghal, Eng Najla Malallah Al Jabir from Ministry of Transport, 1st Lt Eng Khalid Nasser Al Mulla from Ministry of Interior, Eng Ahmad Hassan Al Obaidly, Chief Operating Officer of Mowasalat, Eng Abdulaziz Ali Al Mawlawi from Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, and Eng Abdulla Saif Al Sulaiti from Qatar Rail.
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Talking about match day travel, they advised: “Local residents should use private transportation to get to tournament venues and are encouraged to drive where possible. Visitors are encouraged to use the Doha Metro and public bus services. Direct bus services will be operational to stadiums from five locations around Doha and key accommodation sites.” The Ashghal official said that from November 1, Corniche Street will be pedestrianised as it prepares to host a variety of activities for fans during the tournament. Fans are encouraged to use public transport to visit either the Corniche Activation or FIFA Fan Festival, located in Al Bidda Park. Shuttle bus services will be operated so fans can travel between entertainment areas.
Free shuttle bus services are now operating between Souq Waqif metro station and Al Bidda Park, connecting fans to various locations across the B-Ring and C-Ring Roads, and connecting accommodation sites to activations.
Head of Operations Affairs Sector, Qatar Rail, Eng. Abdullah Saif Al Sulaiti, said that the metro stations are directly connected to Hamad International Airport, Doha International Airport, and central Doha districts like Msheireb, Corniche, the Cultural Village Foundation (Katara) and other event areas.
He said the working hours will be extended to 21 hours daily, from 6 am till 3 am, while on Fridays from 9 am to 3 am, stressing that 110 trains will be available to serve fans, and waiting time to be reduced from five minutes to 165 seconds.
Eng. Ahmed Hassan Al Obaidly said that hundreds of buses will be operated. “The transport network was developed to operate nearly 800 public buses from 4 am to 11 pm, in addition to Metro Link services, and Metro Express services from 6am to 12pm and more than 2,300 buses will operate throughout the day.”
He added that more than 3,000 taxis and limousines will be ready to serve the fans and will be stationed at Hamad International Airport, Doha Airport and other vital places in the country.
Mohamed Ali Al Marri said that Ashghal implemented 1180 directional panels to facilitate access to the stadiums and many facilities related to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, and the roads are monitored first through Ashghal’s Road Network Control Center in coordination with the tournament’s control room.
Al Marri added that more than 6 million square meters of parking spaces were implemented to serve the championship buses and utility vehicles.
The MoI official said that a vehicle plate management system will be implemented in central Doha from November 1. “The area covered spans from Al Khafji Street in the north to C-Ring Road from the west and south, and Corniche Street from the east.” Under the plan, which is being tested every Friday from 3pm to 10pm until October 28, vehicles with general transport plates and black private transport plates are diverted away from central Doha. During the tournament, this will be operational daily. “People who own only one vehicle, as well as public transport vehicles and emergency services, are exempted from the plan. Local authorities will issue fines for vehicles that access central Doha without meeting the exemption criteria.” According to organisers, A-Ring Road now has a dedicated bus and taxi lane. Drivers not authorised to use the bus and taxi lane will be fined. The lane will be open to all road users from 2am to 8am until the tournament. The lane will be used exclusively by buses and taxis 24 hours a day during the tournament.
Additionally, they stated that traffic surrounding the Al Thumama, Khalifa International, Lusail, and Al Janoub stadiums will be prohibited in order to organize vehicle access and leave.
Residents of the neighborhoods close to these venues are urged to take detours.
