There’s no denying that Qatar’s landscape has significantly changed since I came here to Qatar on December 2009. Landing from Doha International Airport, the biggest mall then is the City Center Mall, still no Jollibee, and most of the roads aren’t as beautiful as it is today. Twelve years after the awarding of FIFA to Qatar in 2010, the country has evolved into one of the fastest-developing economies in the world.
And with the many infrastructure projects around the country, its residents are expected to enjoy not only the tourism and economic boost of hosting the FIFA WORLD CUP but also the many developments from new hotels, new attractions, beautiful parks, accessible road networks, even the state of the art stadiums that will be a legacy not only to future sports enthusiasts in Qatar but also to be shared to other countries (some of the seats will be dismantled after the games to be donated to other sporting projects around the world).
NEW HOTELS
NOTE for this section: click the DATE and it will give you related news regarding the opening events, click the HOTEL NAME and it will redirect you to their Social Media Account.
June 1, 2022 – Le Royal Méridien Doha (near Place Vendome) – Switzerland Team
August 1, 2022 – Pullman Doha West Bay (near The Gate Mall) – Uruguay Team
October 2, 2022 – Wyndham Grand Doha West Bay Beach (near Governors/Magnum Hotel) – Tunisia Team
October 13, 2022 – Delta Hotels City Centre (opposite Centara Hotel in Westbay) – Wales Team
October 16, 2022 – St. Regis Marsa Arabia Island, The Pearl-Qatar (Porto Arabia)
November 1, 2022 – Le Meridien City Centre (near City Center Mall) – South Korea Team
November 1, 2022 – Rixos Gulf Hotel Doha (former spot of Marriot Doha near Stadium 974) – Serbia Team
November 2, 2022 – Waldorf Astoria Lusail, Doha (back side of Place Vendome)
November 6, 2022 – Century Marina Hotel – Lusail – Canada Team
November 6, 2022 – Al Samriya Hotel Doha ‘Autograph Collection’ – Portugal Team
SOON – Bin Al Sheikh Residences by Rotana
SOON – Element City Center Doha and Element Westbay Doha
SOON – Andaz Doha
SOON – The Chedi Katara Hotel & Resort (Katara)
SOON – The NED Doha (old Ministry of Interior Building in Corniche)
SOON – Riviera Rayhaan by Rotana
SOON – Rixos Qetaifan Island North Doha
SOON – The Outpost Al Barari
NEW DESTINATIONS
November 13, 2022 – Grand Cruise Terminal at the Doha Port
November 15, 2022 – Mina District at Old Doha Port (near Box Park)
NEW ART-TRACTIONS
NOTE for this section: click the DATE and it will give you related news regarding the opening events, and the duration of the installations, however we are hoping that some if not all of them will stay longer even after FIFA for residents to enjoy (we will provide updates soon).
June 6, 2022 – Egal (mean’s headwear) by Qatari artist Shouq Al Mana (Lusail Marina Promenade)
October 4, 2022 – Flag Plaza by Lebanese designer Najla Al Zein (MIA Park going to Port)
Ocober 22, 2022 – Doha-Mountains by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone (Ras Abou Aboud beachfront)
October 24, 2022 – Shadows travelling on the sea of the day by Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson (Zubarrah Desert)
October 26, 2022 – Dugong by American artist Jeff Koons (Al Masrah Park near QPort Building)
BEAUTIFUL PARKS
March 2022 – Three new parks open to the public in Al Khor: the Northern Entrance, Al Owaina and Al Baraha Parks
April 11, 2022 – Rawdat Al Khail Park (opposite Holiday Villa)
November 1, 2022 – Umm Al Seneem Park (Al Rayan Municipality) – Guinness World Records for the ‘longest air-conditioned outdoor path’
