Hamad International Airport launches Fan Zone to celebrate 2018 FIFA World Cup

The Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC), Hamad International Airport (HIA), and Qatar Airways have announced the launch of an airport football Fan Zone in celebration of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russiaโ„ข.

The public inauguration of the airport Fan Zone was officiated in the presence of Qatar Airways Senior Vice President Marketing and Corporate Communications, Ms. Salam Al Shawa, HIA Vice-President Commercial and Marketing, Mr. Abdulaziz Al Mass and Communications Director at the SC, Ms. Fatma Al Nuaimi.

To celebrate the 2018 FIFA World Cupโ„ข, Qatarโ€™s airport has been transformed, ensuring that the thousands of passengers travelling through it never miss a moment of the excitement. The matches will be broadcast live at the airport in three beautifully themed viewing areas in concourses A, B and C, as well as in Qatar Duty Freeโ€™s (QDF) Marchรฉ restaurant, where fans will be able to watch the matches whilst they enjoy a range of hot dishes. The viewing areas are strategically spread across the terminal so that viewers are close to their boarding gates. The three viewing areas have been designed to resemble a living room, a stadium and a majlis โ€“ a traditional Arabic seating area where guests are received. The themes have been carefully selected to ensure that passengers feel fully immersed in the viewing experience and get a taste of what to expect when Qatar hosts the worldโ€™s biggest sporting event in 2022.

Official 2018 FIFA World Cupโ„ข memorabilia will also be on sale at QDFโ€™s stores throughout the airport and shoppers will have the opportunity to take selfies alongside the 2018 FIFA World Cupโ„ข mascot.

The iconic Lamp Bear area of HIA has been transformed to resemble a football pitch, which will feature games and activities for passengers. The entire terminal will come alive throughout the FIFA World Cupโ„ข with roaming entertainment such as football freestylers, football jugglers and impromptu football matches around the airport. Over the next few weeks, it will also have pop-up activations including foosball games and virtual football. Die-hard fans can have their faces painted with the flag of the country they are supporting.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: โ€œWe are just two days away from the start of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russiaโ„ข, a world-class event which we are extremely excited to be a part of. I am truly delighted to be offering our passengers from across the globe a unique opportunity to experience the joyous atmosphere of the FIFA World Cupโ„ข as they depart or transit through our award-winning home and hub, Hamad International Airport. Passengers from all corners of the globe will be able to watch and support their football teams as they travel through HIA, home to our exclusive football Fan Zone.โ€

The SCโ€™s Assistant Secretary General for Tournament Affairs, Mr. Nasser Al Khater, stated: โ€œLaunching the Airport Fan Zone reflects our objective to transfer the atmosphere of the tournament in Russia to people in Qatar who are passionate about football and keen to watch the matches. We also intend to familiarize Qatarโ€™s visitors and passengers in HIA with the Qatari culture and the exceptional experience we will provide for them in 2022. Iโ€™d like to thank our partners in HIA and I look forward to working with them to deliver the first World Cup in the region.โ€

Engr. Badr Mohammed Al Meer, Chief Operating Officer at Hamad International Airport, commented: โ€œWe are thrilled to be hosting Qatarโ€™s Airport Fan Zone for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russiaโ„ข. Weโ€™ve worked hard to ensure that our passengers never have to miss a moment of the World Cup while they are at HIA, by bringing some of that excitement to them. As the airport of the State of Qatar, we have a unique opportunity to give the passengers transferring through our airport a peak into the countryโ€™s passion for the sport. The Fan Zone also showcases the airport as the gateway to the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatarโ„ข and we look forward to welcoming all the fans through our gates in four yearsโ€™ time.โ€

Head of Qatar Duty Free, Mr. Thabet Musleh, added: โ€œThis is an extremely exciting time for QDF, Qatar Airways, HIA and the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy as we collaborate together to allow all passengers departing or transferring through HIA to be a part of the FIFA World Cup Russiaโ„ข and soak up the thrilling atmosphere of the worldโ€™s biggest sporting event here in Qatar. It is our commitment at QDF to continue to surprise and delight our customers through experiences like this unique Fan Zone, giving them an experience worth travelling for.โ€

This initiative marks HIAโ€™s latest steps on the countryโ€™s journey towards the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatarโ„ข. It promotes Qatarโ€™s passion for football around the world as well as Qatar as a global destination.

To help prepare Qatar for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, HIA is set to increase its passenger capacity from 30 million passengers per year to a target of more than 50 million per year. The airport is also working together with the SC to process the arrival of approximately 96,000 passengers per day during the 2022 FIFA World Cupโ„ข.

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Chief Assignment editor is Oleg Siziakov

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