In preparation for the World Cup .. Expansion of Hamad International Airport to receive 53 million passengers

Imad Murad-Doha

To reach 53 million passengers a year, Hamad International Airport unveiled the second phase of the airport expansion on the sidelines of Cityscape Qatar, which opened today and will continue until Thursday.

The second phase will include the expansion of the central area between E and D, and construction will start from early next year 2020 until the beginning of 2022 before the start of the World Cup, while the second part, which will end after 2022, will be an extension of E and D. This enhances the airport's capacity to reach more than 60 million passengers annually.

The expansion plan also encompasses another 11,720 square meters of retail space, food outlets and other passenger services, which will further enhance the airport's five-star offerings by combining world-class artwork collections with green spaces, as well as retail outlets. Retail, food and attractions within one comprehensive building.

The expansion design is fully integrated with the existing terminal and allows smooth flow of passengers, enhancing the overall travel experience by reducing the distance traveled within the airport and ensuring easy access and roaming inside, while the new green spaces will allow passengers to take advantage of the relaxing atmosphere provided by that nature New.

With the opening of the new phase, the Hamad International Airport Terminal will be the first in the Middle East and North Africa to receive the four-star Global Sustainability Assessment System, the first performance-based system in the Middle East, developed to evaluate green buildings and infrastructure. Also certified silver accreditation "LEED" thanks to the availability of innovative measuring instruments for energy efficiency throughout the building.

New charging station
The second phase will also see the construction of a new cargo terminal, which will increase the capacity to an estimated 3.2 million tons per year, where the new multi-level station will be on an area of ​​85 thousand square meters of three levels, providing 323 thousand square meters in total land area.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said that Hamad International Airport's expansion plan is part of Qatar's preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, adding that the new expansion demonstrates the vitality of the Qatari economy and stimulates investment as it provides excellent opportunities for local and international construction companies.

Al Baker said that the expansion plan includes not only increasing the capacity of the airport, but also enhancing the experience of passengers through Hamad International Airport, and to provide outstanding travel experiences for all passengers with increasing numbers in the future.

Hamad Al Meer, Chief Operating Officer of Hamad International Airport, agreed with Al Baker that the new expansion will provide a unique travel experience through the Hamad International Airport Gateway, pointing out that the new expansion plan reinforces Hamad International Airport's status as a tourist destination in itself and a vital hub for international aviation.

Six tenders
Al-Mir revealed in an interview with Al-Jazeera Net - the launch of six new tenders in the market, two of which were awarded to companies, and two new tenders will be awarded before the end of this month, and the last two tenders will be awarded in the second half of November, and in December Next all companies will start working in different locations.

Al Meer added that the new phase will add many new gates, parking lots, air cargo terminal, aviation fuel and all other passenger services. The number of passengers will increase from 38 million passengers to 53 million.

He explained that work will be completed in the second phase beginning in 2022 until Hamad International Airport is ready to receive fans for the World Cup.

Hamad International Airport, which ranked fourth as the best airport in the world, according to the Skytrax International Airport Awards this year, is entering its sixth year since its opening in 2014, serving more than 187 million passengers so far.