Hamad International Airport (HIA) marked seven successful years as an award-winning leading global travel hub. This 2021, HIA was crowned as the ‘Best Airport in the World’ by aviation rating company Skytrax.

Stepping inside one of the busiest airports in the world, passengers can experience luxury and space, sophistication and elegance. High ceilings give a sense of grandeur, while designer touches and beautiful art installations are spread all across the airport.

Many leisure and business travellers don't mind spending an entire day inside Qatar's main airport as there's so much to do. Keep scrolling to have an idea on how to properly make use of your layover time inside the premises of the multi-awarded HIA!

Refresh, relax & recharge at the unique lounges!

Your layover at HIA can be made enjoyable in many ways. Be sure to unwind and relax inside the airport!

'Quiet Rooms'

Find a quiet lounge area to relax. The airport offers 'Quiet Rooms'—tranquil spaces with soft lighting, and designated male and female sections. Catch up on a few hours’ sleep or simply rest your eyes on comfortable recliners.

Want to take a nap?

• Check out the new Sleep Lounge inside Hamad International Airport!
• Here's a complete list of HIA's lounges.

If you have a little more time on your hands, consider staying at the four-star Oryx Airport Hotel located inside the airport. Oryx Airport Hotel has 100 rooms, and you just have to choose between twin, king bedrooms, or suites.

Al Safwa First Lounge

First-class passengers can go to the Al Safwa First Lounge where they'll find private bedrooms, à-la-carte dining, and cool architecture. The lounge access is for Qatar Airways First Class passengers and is located on Level 3 of the airport.

Al Mourjan Business Lounge

First-class and Business class flyers get access to the Al Mourjan Business Lounge inside the airport, which includes posh showers, nap pods, a large dining room, and a high-end bar. The Al Mourjan Business Lounge is located on the third level, Duty Free Plaza South.

Stay fit!

You don't want to miss HIA’s Vitality Wellbeing and Fitness Centre! Book a treatment and get free access to the indoor swimming pool, hydrotherapy tub, shower room, and fully equipped gym.

Open 24 hours and conveniently located on the fourth floor of the Oryx Airport Hotel, Vitality is the "venue for restoring energy and balance when flying".

Pamper yourself!

While inside HIA, you can pamper yourself with a massage, manicure, pedicure, facial, and shower! Be Relax Spa Qatar offers a wide range of pampering services for travelers to completely unwind.

To make it more hassle-free, you can book a service at Be Relax Qatar!

Fun for kids!

HIA knows how to keep young travelers entertained during a layover—from the Mac stations that provide interactive entertainment to play areas where kids can work off their energy before the flight.

To help pass the time for your little ones, HIA has five activity nodes inside the passenger terminal: one each in Concourse A and Concourse B, and three in Concourse C. These include the bronze playground sculptures that are spread throughout the concourse. Follow the signs, approach an information desk, or use the airport map to locate these play areas.

HIA also has over 500 baby strollers available throughout the terminal.

Traveling with kids?

• Let your family experience- the ultimate comfort at Hamad International airport!
• See these tips on how to spend 24 hours at Hamad International Airport!

Feast on stunning art pieces!

Preparing to bring in 50 million passengers by 2022, "HIA is thriving to give transit travellers a memorable journey through arts and culture". People transiting via HIA can see stunning architecture and international art inside the airport, most notably a 23-foot bronze teddy bear that sits inside a lamp. Besides the popular yellow bear, did you know that there are more than 20 other art installations scattered throughout the airport?

This includes the likes of 'The Flying Man' by artist Dia al-Azzawi which is inspired by Abu Firnas, a pioneer in the world of aviation, ‘Cosmos’ by internationally-acclaimed French Artist Jean-Michel Othoniel, and 'A message of peace to the World' by Iraqi artist Ahmed Al Bahrani, which symbolises hope for a utopian world without suffering or violence.

You can also see 'Small Lie' by American artist KAWS. The sculpture is made from wood weighing in at 15 tonnes and standing 32 feet tall.

Not many airports boast such an impressive collection of art, so make it a personal challenge to find all the stunning art pieces! And for the full museum experience, there’s also a museum gift shop inside the airport.

Watch our videos here:

• Interesting HIA Art Installations: PART 1
• Interesting HIA Art Installations: PART 2

Shop! Shop! Shop!

Whatever your shopping needs, you will find them at Hamad International Airport! HIA is continuously working on elevating passengers' journeys by expanding the variety of top-tier brands and products available within the airport.

Doha airport has a variety of duty-free shops where you can pick up the latest fashion at high-end boutiques as well including Penhaligon's, Chanel, Harrods, Bvlgari, Hermès Paris, Hublot, and Swarovski.

The airport’s expansive commercial space offers brands the opportunity to reach out to a truly global audience.

• Check out the list of shops here: HIA duty-free shops!
• Recently, Duty Free opened an Apple Shop Programme at Hamad International Airport!!
  

Drink & Dine!

HIA's tagline says "a taste of everything, from gourmet to on-the-go" is very true with its wide array of restaurants and cafes.

Unsure of what to eat? Check out the restaurant and cafe choices available inside the airport here.

Choose your preferred cuisine (Arabic, American, Italian, etc.) from the dropdown menu and pick your preferred location within the terminal.

Looking for something traditional but doesn't taste too far from home? Then don't miss ordering a cup of Arabic coffee at Qataf Cafe—a concept that combines traditional Arabic hospitality with a contemporary design.

RELATED: 16 must-try food when you visit Qatar!

Stay connected!

Stay connected with friends and family, update your social media accounts, or surf the internet courtesy of the airport’s free WiFi. If you don’t have a mobile device or a laptop, HIA offers free Mac computers for surfing the net. Internet kiosks are located throughout the airport.

So, if you've arrived at HIA and haven't downloaded the Ehteraz app on your mobile, airport officials will ask you to download it using the complimentary WiFi. You can also buy a Vodafone or an Ooredoo mobile SIM here.

RELATED: Visitors will be able to activate EHTERAZ app using international SIM card.

Details:

• Website: www.dohahamadairport.com
• Facebook: @HIAQatar
• Instagram: @hiaqatar
• Twitter: @HIAQatar
  

Written by Sonkie Bagongfirs, and updated by Marivie Alabanza.

Have you spent a day-long layover at the Hamad International Airport? If yes, how was it? Were you able to try out the things and activities that we've compiled in this article? Drop us a line in the comments and also, don't forget to like and share this article—it keeps us going!

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