Hamad International Airport (DOH) opened in 2014 to become Qatar’s largest airport. It is located in the capital, Doha, a significant percentage of its land having been reclaimed from the Persian Gulf.
The airport has since become one of the world's leading airports, both by passengers served and direct destinations offered.
DOH handled over 52.5 million passengers in 2024, showing a marked (15%) increase year-to-year and ranking among the 35 busiest airports in the world. With practically all the flights being international, Hamad Airport is also in the top 10 of the world’s busiest airports by international traffic.
Major Airlines - Qatar Airways
DOH serves as the main and only hub for Qatar Airways, the national flag carrier. The airline operates a fleet of over 200 airplanes and a network of nearly 200 destinations, all from Doha.
Hamad International also accommodates over 45 other airlines, including some of the largest in the world, such as Air India, British Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and Virgin Australia, among others.
A few low-cost airlines operate at Doha. These include Akasa Air from India, FlyArystan from Kazakhstan, and Flynas from Saudi Arabia.
To see a full list of airlines at Doha’s Hamad International, click here.
Terminal Layout and Gates of DOH
Doha Hamad is a single-terminal airport. Nonetheless, it’s a pretty big one at 600.000 sq. m..
The terminal is divided into five concourses
Concourse A: 10 gates.
Concourse B: 10 gates.
Concourse C: 25 gates forming the central spine of the terminal.
Concourses D & E: Expanded in March 2025 and have a total of 17 gates.
All concourses can handle Airbus A350, the biggest passenger airplane in civil aviation.
Concourses A and B are located on the south side of the terminal, whereas D and E are on the north side. To move between the two, you can use the Cable Liner - an indoor automated people mover available 24/7. Concourse C is between, so it’s best reached on foot (a 3-4 minute walk maximum).
Connecting Flights and Transit
Having a layover at Doha Hamad International is relatively simple.
You may remain within the international transit zone without the need to go through Immigration (though your carry-on luggage will have to go through Security), and you won’t need a visa for that. Each concourse has its own transfer hall where you can get assistance with your onward flight.
Additionally, if you’re flying with Qatar Airways and have a layover longer than 5 hours, you are eligible for a free Qatar transit visa. It’s a good idea to check whether you’re not visa-exempt to begin with. This transit visa allows you to leave the airport and explore Qatar for up to 4 days (96 hours). You may want to check out the best things to do in Qatar if you plan on spending a longer layover there.
Wi-Fi at DOH
There is free Wi-Fi everywhere within the common areas of the airport.
To connect, select the “#HIAQatar” network. This will automatically open a splash welcome page where you will have to complete a short login procedure.
Once connected, you’re good to go - there are no time limits or bandwidth restrictions.
Dining Options at Hamad International
With so many international travelers passing through Doha, it’s no surprise that the airport has a diverse culinary scene, with most of the restaurants and cafes open essentially 24/7.
Of the over 66 dining venues, you will find local Qatari cuisine, your favorite fast food, cuisines from around the world, and coffee shops in different styles.
Some of the best places to dine at DOH include:
Baladna and Baladna Express: Best place to go for traditional Qatari dishes and Arabic staples.
Chapati & Karak: Try the local snacks and beverages.
Gordon Ramsay's Street Pizza: A big name that brings an internationally acclaimed pizza to the table.
Harrods Tea Room & Fendi Café: An exquisite place to have luxury tea, pastries, and ice cream.
Jaipur: For an amalgam of Indian cuisine.
Burger King: If in a rush, a burger is never a bad idea.
Comptoir Libanais: Lebanese cuisine in a vibrant, colorful ambiance.
EatGreek Kouzina: Eat like the Greeks - fresh, flavorful, and healthy.
Fendi Cafe: The name is not a coincidence - it’s a coffee house inspired by the famous Italian fashion house, which serves a wide selection of coffee and tea, juices, sandwiches, and pastries.
If you’re undecided, after all, appetite comes from the eyes, go to the Food Market, where you will find over a dozen places to eat, from Indian to Middle Eastern and International cuisine, plus fast food options and even a Gelato outlet!
Lounges at Doha Airport
Hamad International houses several lounges, each more luxurious than the previous. Many of the lounges are dedicated to those flying with Qatar Airways, though a few are not airline-specific.
Here is a list of lounges at DOH:
Al Safwa First Lounge: Exclusively for Qatar Airways First Class passengers and the most exquisite lounge at the airport. It’s a massive lounge, and with so few traveling First Class, you will have a lot of space. It features a dedicated spa, a restaurant, a cinema, showers, family rooms, and even a Formula 1 driving simulator. A lounge to rule all lounges!
Al Mourjan Business Lounge South: Available for Qatar Airways Business Class travelers. Economy passengers can enter for 450 QAR. It offers quiet areas, showers, and unlimited buffet among other amenities.
Al Mourjan Business Lounge – The Garden: A similar lounge with views over the inner garden/orchard. Also has a spa and gym, and offers complimentary food.
First and Business Class Arrivals Lounges: If you’ll be traveling in style, you can also start your trip in style. Located both before and after immigration, these lounges serve premium fliers with premium amenities like a business centre, showers, and a smoking room.
Al Maha and Oryx Lounges: Accessible by travelers of all airlines for a fee (some business class travelers may enter for free). They provide showers, a business center, a smoking area, TVs, and other benefits.
Platinum Lounge - South: Accessible by Qatar Airways Platinum members.
Gold Lounge - South: Accessible by Qatar Airways Gold members.
Silver Lounge - South: Accessible by Qatar Airways Silver members
Unaccompanied Minors Lounge: Located at Concourse B, this unique lounge is exclusively for kids! Featuring lots of entertainment, video games, and constant supervision, this is an awesome place to leave your children while exploring the airport more leisurely.
Marriners’ Lounge: A lounge located on Level 2 of South Plaza and dedicated to the seafarers and offshore workers travelling on Qatar Airways. It offers hot food and showers, among other things.
Muzn Lounge: A lounge dedicated to children on the autism spectrum. It features a multi-sensory room with a wide range of devices available. Located between Gates C7 and C9 and free for ages 2 to 12. Input code “DPNA” when booking your flight (or checking in) with Qatar Airways, and staff members will assist.
Transportation options at Doha Hamad Airport
DOH is fairly close to the city center of the Qatari capital and sufficiently well-connected to it.
Clean and well-maintained buses, operated by Mowasalat, Qatar’s state transport company, depart from the Bus Pavilion located to the right of the arrivals hall and run to various points in the city. Inquire with the ground staff for more information.
The Red Line of the Doha Metro connects the airport to places of interest in the city. DOH actually lies on a segment connecting to the main Red Line, so some trains will be southbound, i.e., towards the Al Wakra terminus. Make sure to check the direction of the train you’re boarding. A single ticket costs 2 QAR (10 QAR for premium tickets), with a day pass only 6 QAR.
Note that the Doha Metro operates as follows:
Saturday to Wednesday: 5:30 am to 11:59 pm.
Thursday: 5:30 am to 1 am.
Friday: 2 pm to 1 am.
If arriving outside of those times, you can opt for a taxi instead. Taxis wait on the east side of the terminal. They have meters, and a trip to downtown Doha costs around 40 QAR.
Alternatively, the ride-sharing apps Uber, Careem, inDrive, and Ryde are all popular in Qatar. Karwa, a local service, is a popular option for limousine services.
Lastly, if you want to rent a car, you can do so at the VCN (Vertical Circulation Node), located across the arrivals hall of the Passenger Terminal Building, where all car rental companies are located. International providers include Europcar, Avis, Hertz, and Budget. Some of the popular local car rental companies are Al Muftah Rent a Car and Mustafawi Rent a Car.
Parking at Hamad International Airport
There is one car park located on either side of the Terminal.
The parking rate is as follows:
Hourly rate: 15 QAR
Daily rate: 145 QAR (each day that has begun)
Additionally, Premium Parking is available with a super convenient location next to the terminal. It’s available to those flying with Qatar Airways. The rates are:
First hour: 30 QAR
Second hour: 20 QAR more
Third hour: 10 QAR more
So for the first 3 hours, you will pay 60 QAR to park. Thereafter, the daily parking fee of 200 QAR applies.
Promotional rates are available for longer stays:
4-7 days: 350 QR
8-14 days: 450 QR
1-3 days during the weekend (Thursday to Saturday or Friday to Sunday): 250 QR
Last but not least, Valet Parking is offered at a premium rate at the curbside of the Terminal. The rates for Valet Parking at:
Short stay (2 hours): 100 QAR
Daily rate: 275 QAR
Weekend rate (two days): 450 QAR
Hotels near Doha Airport
The most convenient place to stay within the Terminal is the Oryx Airport Hotel. It’s ideal for transit passengers and highly recommended for resting between flights.
A more budget-friendly option for sleeping while in transit is the sleep’n’fly Sleep Lounge. Two exist - one in the South Node and one in the North Node. These operate on a pay-per-hour basis.
Outside the Terminal, there are few options, if any. You’re much better off going to the city and staying there.
Doha, Qatar
