Over a million World Cup fans are preparing to visit the Gulf to watch the month-long festival of football in Qatar. As the first World Cup to be staged in the Middle East, social norms and religious practices are likely to be different from previous tournaments.
Fan festivals: When the opening match kicks-off in Doha, Al Bidda Park located in the heart of the city near the Corniche will become a meet-up spot for supporters throughout the tournament. Matches will also be screened at other fan sites, at Qetaifan Island North, where a beach festival is planned with concerts, activities, food and drink outlets; on Al Maha Island in Lusail; and at the Al Maha Arena, where live concerts will be hosted.
Those who have booked accommodation at the official fan villages on the outskirts of Doha can visit the Fan Village Cabins Free Zone, where games will be shown live.
Free travel is being provided on the Doha Metro system, Hayya Fan ID and a World Cup match ticket will allow access to the Doha Metro. All eight stadiums hosting 64 matches are within an hour drive of central Doha.
Hayya card: It is compulsory for visitors to apply for a Hayya card, it is a fan ID that offers free public transport around Doha and acts as an entry visa into the country. The Supreme Committee for Delivery Legacy opened a special service center for Hayya card holders to support fans at the Ali bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena.
Fans can collect a physical copy of their digital Hayya card, in case they want to use transport services or fan zones and do not have a mobile phone. The center’s opening hours are from 10am to 10pm every day except Fridays, where opening hours are from 2pm to 10pm until December 23.
Alcohol: Alcohol is served in licensed restaurants and in many hotels across the country, the organizers also assured that it will be made available in fan zones at certain times. Alcohol sales in fan zones may be less expensive than hotels and will probably involve exchanging local currency for tokens that can be used for purchasing beverages.
Bringing alcohol into the country is forbidden. Only residents are allowed to purchase alcohol from specialist outlets for home consumption, so drinking away from official venues will be off-limits for fans.
COVID-19: A vaccine is not mandatory to visit Qatar. However, anyone attending the World Cup aged six or above is required to present a negative coronavirus on arrival at the airport.
A PCR test result must not be more than 48 hours old before the time of embarking from the country where the test was performed, or if taking an official negative Rapid Antigen Test, the result must have been received not more than 24 hours before departure time. Note that self-tests will not be accepted.
Clothing: Respecting local norms is likely to be one of the greatest challenges for the huge number of visitors coming to Qatar during the World Cup. Swimwear is allowed on hotel beaches and swimming pools, but visitors will be expected to cover shoulders and knees when visiting public places like museums and government buildings.
The removal of shirts is prohibited inside stadiums, although the much publicized air-conditioned stadiums are designed to maintain a pleasant temperature for spectators. Outside, the average temperature for November is around 26ºC, but it could get as warm as the mid-30s.
Public displays of affection: The organizing committee has asked visitors during the World Cup to limit public displays of affection. Qatari law prohibits cohabitation of unmarried couples, but authorities have confirmed that during the tournament unmarried friends of different genders or couples can share the same room without penalty.
Photography: With hordes of fans sharing their experiences on social media, enforcing Qatar’s strict rules on privacy and photography could be a challenge. Organizers called on fans to exercise “common courtesy” and ask permission before photographing or filming others. Fans should be aware that taking pictures of government buildings such as offices, military camps or industrial areas is strictly prohibited.
Fans should ensure their travel insurance covers any enforced stays in a hotel to isolate, a requirement if you test positive while in Qatar.
World Cup visitors to Qatar who hold Hayya cards are excluded from the pre-entry online registration requirement on the Qatari government’s Ehteraz website for residents and GCC nationals.
Like in the UAE, even in Qatar masks are only required on public transport and on healthcare premises.
E-cigarettes: Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health ordered an outright ban on sales of vapes in 2014.
Hamad International Airport customs department was also advised not to allow e-cigarettes into the country along with Qatar’s seaport and land borders.
Despite this, there remains a large community that regularly uses e-cigarettes without penalty, so there may be some leniency on the matter. However, it will not be possible to legally purchase vaping refills and associated products while in Qatar.
Working week: Qatar starts its working week on a Sunday, with a weekend of Friday and Saturday. Some services, including banks and certain shops will have reduced working hours on Friday, as it is considered a holy day.