Following the gradual lifting of COVID-19 restrictions across Qatar, Hamad International Airport (HIA) is applying newly modified procedures for arriving passengers.
The airport has customised its procedures based on the categorisation of arriving passengers, hence ensuring a smooth return to the country:
- Group One: Qatari citizens, their spouses and children, permanent residency holders
- Group Two: vulnerable passengers with identified medical conditions or are 55 years old and above
- Group Three: passengers arriving from ‘low-risk countries’
- Group Four: passengers arriving from ‘high-risk countries’
Check out Ministry of Public Health website (moph.gov.qa) for the updated list of countries classified as high- and low-risk for COVID-19.
All arriving passengers will be thermally screened at the airport. Passengers must have the EHTERAZ mobile application downloaded and installed on a smartphone which requires a SIM card. Volunteers are available to help set up passengers with the EHTERAZ App. Smartphones and SIM cards are also available for purchase at the airport.
All passengers must also fill out a health assessment form and sign a quarantine pledge agreement, preferably filled prior to arrival in Doha and submitted upon arrival.
Passengers arriving from ‘high-risk countries’ will proceed to immigration whilst presenting their hotel booking to the immigration officer. Once all arrival formalities have been completed, passengers will be transported to their quarantine hotel with Discover Qatar.
All other arriving passengers will be diverted to designated airport testing facilities where they will receive swab tests. Once testing is complete, passengers will then proceed to immigration for entry processing. Those passengers can use private transportation to their home quarantine. The airport’s taxi pavilion is also available.
HIA is currently implementing a comprehensive COVID-19 safety procedure, keeping every passenger journey in mind, whether they are arriving, departing or transferring through the airport.
To ensure the health and well-being of staff and passengers, HIA has also introduced a series of unprecedented measures which include the implementation of a ‘robotics’ system and advanced thermal screening helmets.
The five-star airport is keen on the safety of passengers and employees and are continuously cleaning and disinfecting all high contact areas every 10-15 minutes. Hand sanitisers are also readily available at key locations across the terminal, maintains 1.5-metre social distancing across all passenger touchpoints through floor markings, signage and distance seating.
For updates and more information, visit dohahamadairport.com.
