Dhaka to Doha Flights

  About Dhaka

Nestled close to the lovely Buriganga river is the capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka. The city has an excess population and exquisite architecture, inspired by the Mughal, British and American rule.

Best time to visit Dhaka

The busiest months for Dhaka are June, January and February. The seasons of Dhaka are quite similar to the ones faced in the North Eastern locales of India. However, they are slightly tweaked depending on the impact of the rains and summer. June is the onset of summer and hence, a very comfortable time to visit. The air is continuously humid, which could be another reason to avoid this time of the year. March through May is spring for Dhaka and the weather is slightly tolerable. Expect some rain though even during spring as the city is known to face regular rains throughout the year. Spring becomes a favoured month among travel enthusiasts who wish to visit the city as the hotel rooms are cheap. Even if you don't make prior reservations, you will find cheap hotels in Dhaka during this season. The crowd in the city is also comparatively few, making it easier for you to venture around.

You will find many cheap flight and hotel deals to Dhaka if you opt for spring. Fall is another such season when the flight and hotel prices are low, allowing tourists to get the perks of good deals. September through November is not ideal for tourism though as the showers can get very risky. The torrential rains could even lead to floods and waterlogging in the city of Dhaka. The city witnesses excess rain from the winds arriving from the Bay of Bengal, which gets really murky. Tourism sees a tremendous dip during this season, making hotel prices very cheap and affordable. The best time to visit though, aside from spring is winter. With temperatures that stand at 223 degree Celsius as opposed to the exorbitant ones during summer, Dhaka's winters are very beautiful. However, as this is a busy time for tourism in the country, you might have a tough time finding decent accommodation in the city. Plus, the prices would also be quite high. The best thing to do to get cheap and affordable deals would be to make prior hotel bookings in Dhaka.

Places to visit in Dhaka

The city has a plethora of lovely neighbourhoods that can be explored. There are a few religious sites that you can start with when visiting in Dhaka. These establishments are top tourist attractions in Dhaka and definitely worth your time. You can start with the Armenian Church of Holy Resurrection which was erected back in 1781 by American missionaries. You do not need a specific tour guide to take you through this place. You also have the Holy Rosary Church to visit. Dhaka also houses many mosques as it is predominantly an Islamic country. You will find exquisite mosques in the city. Check out some prominent ones such as the Baitul Mukarram Mosque, Chawk Mosque, Hussaini Dalan Mosque, Musa Khan mosque and Sitara mosque. It is imperative that you follow some protocols of the religion before entering the mosque as they are very strict about their customs. The city also has a Hindu temple, Dhakeshwari Temple, which was built in the 12th century.

An important tourist attraction in the city is the Lalbagh Fort. The fort, built during the Mughal era, has witnessed some bloody wars in the old times. In fact, the spot has experienced some of the biggest iconic moments in Bangladesh's history and hence, holds a prominent position in their cultural heritage. You should also check out the Curzon Hall, which has now been transformed into the University of Dhaka. Also, do not miss the Banga Bhaban, the official abode to the president of Bangladesh. The palace has been heavily inspired by the British India era and reflects the same. The 1857 Memorial is a spot worth checking out. It is basically a vast expanse of memorial that has been built to honour the martyrs who perished during the first Liberation War that took place to oppose the British rule. Do not miss the National Poet's graveyard as well, which is the tomb of the revolutionary poet, Kazi Nazrul Islam. The National Botanical Gardens is a beautiful location within the city which transports you from the excess noise of Dhaka to tranquillity.

Things to do in Dhaka

There are quite a handful of things that you can do during your stay in Dhaka. As part of your excursion to learn more about the city, you can visit the National Museum. The place will take you through the past and struggles of Bangladesh before being blessed with freedom and a separate nation of its own. You can also visit the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum and known more about Bangladesh's freedom fighter Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, also called, 'Father of the Nation'. The Dhaka Zoo is another interesting place you can visit when in the city. The zoo has many species of exotic birds and animals including the profound Royal Bengal Tiger. The Sadarghat River Front is also a beautiful place where you can relax and unwind after a long day of indulging in tourist activities. The riverfront rests on the banks of the lovely Buriganga river. You can further elevate your experience by taking up boat rides.

Food and Restaurants in Dhaka

Dhaka has an abundance of food varieties ranging from traditional Bangladeshi food to Chinese, Indian and even Mexican cuisine. Most of the food is served in buffet style at these restaurants with fixed prices so you should carry enough cash with you. To get the best of Dhaka's fine dining scene, you should visit Gulshan, Baridhara, Lalmatia, Banani and Dhanmondi. These streets have elite food establishments with international cuisine. You would be surprised and amazed by some of the astounding joints that these streets have in Dhaka. La Forchetta is one such restaurant that brings the flavours of Italy on a platter. It is one of the best Italian joints in the city and definitely recommended. The city also has steakhouses with a food establishment called Steakhouse.

A&W is one of the famous burger joints with special American-style burger served with fries and a rootbeer float. They also have a jukebox in the background that would take you back in time. Bamboo Shoot is another fantastic restaurant especially in Chinese and Thai food. Adding to the authenticity of the joint are a number of Chinese expats who seem to relish the food here. Bella Italia is another food restaurant that was founded by an individual who served at an Italian restaurant. For some local food, you should check out Dhanshiri, located in Gulshan street. The food served here celebrates the Bangladeshi food and is served at a reasonable price. You can also check out Gulshan Khabar Ghar for some more local food. The cafe scene in Dhaka is also quite good and something you would enjoy. Mermaid Cafe, Bittersweet Cafe are some places where you will get good coffee and baked goods. The ambience served is just as exquisite.

How to reach Dhaka (Transportation)

By Air

Flight connectivity to Dhaka from India is excellent. As a neighbouring country, a majority of flights to Bangladesh sees a layover in Kolkata. In fact, you will find direct and nonstop flights to Dhaka from Kolkata. The city's proximity to Bangladesh's capital makes it possible. This is the most popular route to Dhaka often chosen by travellers visiting the city from India. There are no direct nonstop flights to Dhaka from any other city in the country. If you are travelling from Mumbai or Delhi, you will have to change flights at Kolkata. From Delhi though, Biman Bangladesh is the only airline that has reserved a nonstop direct flight to Dhaka. Besides this, much of the airlines opt for a layover in Kolkata. Many Indian airlines such as SpiceJet, IndiGo and Vistara, have regular flights to Dhaka. However, they all travel till Kolkata, from where Biman Bangladesh takes the passengers to Dhaka. Flights to Dhaka from India also take international routes with layovers in cities such as Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Colombo and Istanbul, depending on the airlines chosen.

The flight tickets to Dhaka are extremely cheap from India. You can get flight tickets to Dhaka for as less as INR8,000. The flight duration is also quite decent with popular airlines reaching in less than five hours. Of course, these flights are expensive as compared to the ones who reach Dhaka in 12 hours.

By Rail

Flights are not the only way to reach Dhaka, though. There is a special dedicated train that connects Dhaka and Kolkata. The Maitree Express is touted to be the first international railway line connecting Dhaka with an international city, i.e., Kolkata. It is a full-AC train which is quite posh and has luxurious services available.

By Road

AC buses to Dhaka are also available, owing to how close the cities of Dhaka and Kolkata are. Much of these buses are government-run as it has to do with international borders. These buses travel to Dhaka on alternate days and are super cheap.

  About Doha

Qatar's capital, Doha, is one of the most famous and populated cities in the Middle East. It is nestled along the coast of the Persian Gulf and has brilliant connectivity with several international cities in the world.

Best time to visit Doha

Desert nations often enjoy exquisite winters making them the peak months for tourism. Doha too enjoys the brisk winter winds as it hosts various fun events. December to January is considered the ideal months for a travel pursuit to Doha. The weather is a beautiful amalgam of warm and cold. As a desert, the winter days are pleasant while the nights are cold in Doha. It is certainly inviting as the luxurious setting of the city with expanses of scintillating brown sand would make anyone happy. So much that the hotel prices skyrocket during these months. It would be extremely difficult to find a cheap snazzy hotel in Doha during winter. Unless you make prior hotel bookings in Doha, you might not be able to find the ideal accommodation. The same goes for flights as well, so best would be to book them months in advance.

Winter might be peak season but so is fall in Doha. September through November is actually ideal weather as the city transitions from hot to cold. The experience during the fall in Doha is exquisite. What makes this very convenient is how tourism doesn't reach its peak in these months. You will be able to enjoy the pleasant weather, and at the same time, you wouldn't even have to splurge massively. Prior hotel bookings in Doha always come in handy as it would help you save more to spend in the city. Besides, the flight and hotel deals in Doha ahead of winter are aplenty. You will find many flight deals to Doha online with some room for accommodation combos too. As long as you spend enough time to find the right deal with an exquisite hotel room, your Doha trip would be a good one. Note though that many tourists start planning for a fall vacation in Doha thanks to the climate and the possibility of getting cheaper rates in Doha.

Places to visit in Doha

Doha's popularity doesn't just come with its Middle East heritage but also fancy locales and tourist attractions. To get the feel of Qatari heritage, you should start your tourist endeavours from the Museum of Islamic Art. It is an architectural delight and definitely worth the pursuit. You will be amazed by the exquisite location with its tree-covered facade. Doha Corniche is the second most important tourist attraction of Doha. The location is basically a waterfront which has a fascinating promenade forming the Doha Bay. The Corniche often sees a lot of events and festivities as being an important hub of the city of Doha. You can also make a day plan to visit Doha's artificial island, The Pearl-Qatar. It spans across four kilometres, the island is still under work as the officials wish to stretch the coastline to 32 kilometres. The National Museum of Qatar is located within the city premise and would take you through the history and cultural train of Doha and Qatar. Speaking of history, the AlKoot Fort would definitely catch your fancy as a military fortress that was built in 1927.

You can add Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art in your list of places to visit in Doha. The gorgeous infrastructure has been built with modern and contemporary influences of art and creativity. The complex has been recently created and has already managed to rake in a lot of attention and the position of one of Doha's famous attractions. Aspire Park is another interesting place that you can check out. It is located in the southern district of Baaya in the city of Doha. Covering over 88 hectares of land, it is recognised as Doha's largest parks, featuring lovely fountains, green expanses and the view of the Aspire Tower.

Things to do in Doha

The city of Doha has quite a few things that you can indulge in when you visit the place. Some of the tourist attractions are aesthetically pleasing. To make your trip a little lavish, you can head to the Racing & Equestrian Club to check out and bet on horses. Since horse racing is one of the legal gambling scenes in the world, you will be able to get an idea of high-end living. You can also visit the Al Wakrah Public Garden and relish the exquisite spread of colourful flowers and green landscapes that the park boasts. It also has a waterfront, which only adds to the garden's beauty. Oxygen Park is another green spread where you can enjoy some fresh air and lovely vibe of the place. Nightclub hopping is one activity you can take up when you're in the city. Meanwhile, shopping is another fun activity that you will want to do because the city flaunts its Dior and Gucci showrooms like it flaunts the lovely waterfront.

Food and Restaurants in Doha

Doha's diversity in terms of food culture comes from its accommodation of international cuisine. The place has a plethora of international food establishments to cater to the foreign tourists that visit the city on a regular basis. However, while you do indulge in the lovely global cuisine, do not miss out the classic and Qatari food that can be found in Doha. Qatari food is recognised for its exquisite home-cooked styled stews and impeccable delicacies. Much of the Qatari food is heavily influenced by North Africa, Levant, Bedouin and flavours from the Indian subcontinent. Dishes such as Saloona, Warak enab, balaleet, majboos, to name a few, are from the authentic Qatari kitchen. They would certainly leave quite an impact on you. You can find the best of these dishes at food establishments such as Al Jasra, Walima, Al Manchab, Easair Cafe, Shisha Garden and Chai Halib.

While you're indulging in their meals, do not miss their ubiquitous savouries with luqaimat taking the cake. It is a traditional sweet dumpling that is stuffed with flavours of saffron and cardamom and is drenched in sugar syrup. Umm Ali is also a fancy dessert that you should check out when in Doha. Some of the Indian influences in their Qatari dishes include the famous rogag. It is a thin layer of batter, inspired by dosa, filled with minced meat, vegetables or egg. The dish is traditionally consumed as a breakfast item. Shay Al Shoomos in Souq Waqif serves the best rogags, you should probably write down this name in your list of culinary expeditions in Doha. Another interesting savoury by the Qatari cuisine is the kunafa, quite famous in the Middle East belt. To experience the best of Doha's culinary delights, the ideal thing to do would be to check out the Al Souq Street in the city. They are literally swamped with exquisite food joints and establishments.

How to reach Doha (Transportation)

Flight connectivity to Doha from India is excellent and very regular. The city in Qatar has a massive demand in the city with many tourists flocking over on a daily basis. Hence, the number of flights are also excessive, not to mention the connectivity and convenient duration. There are a plethora of direct flights to Doha from India. In fact, many airports have been specifically constructed in India to cater to the demand for Doha and other Middle-Eastern countries. Airlines such as IndiGo, Srilankan Airlines, Qatar Airways, Oman Air, Turkish Airlines, British Airways, Turkish Airlines, Singapore Airlines, to name a few, have daily flights to Doha. Even though there are many direct nonstop flights to Doha from India, many often take the international route to Doha from Muscat or Dubai. The flight duration to Doha from India is also quite decent as it takes about three hours to reach the city. This depends on the flight and airlines that you choose. Although the time duration is perfect since it leaves a lot of time in hand to explore the city, it comes with a price.

Flight tickets to Doha range from cheap and affordable to expensive. A majority of how much you spend on booking flight tickets to Doha depends on the airlines you pick and the flight duration. For cheap and inexpensive flight tickets to Doha, you will get them in the range of INR 17,000. However, you will end up spending about nine hours travelling. By adding an extra INR 1000 to the ticket expenditure, you will not just save up on flight duration to Doha but also receive better flight services. Booking flight tickets to Doha come with a plethora of online deals. You might be able to make the most of travel discounts by booking flights and hotels in Doha. Depending on the season, the hotel prices in Doha might vary and hence, to acquire cheap and affordable deals, you should make prior bookings. Interestingly, while Doha is easy and convenient to reach from India, many opt to drive down to Doha from Bahrain as the long stretch of highways in the Middle East are perfect for petrolheads to go on a driving excursion.

  About Hazrat Shahjalal Airport

Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport is the most prominent international airport that is installed in Dhaka. It is situated about 17 km from Kurmitola. The airport is also part of the BAF Bangabandhu Base which is being utilised by Bangladesh Air Force. The airport was previously known as Dacca International Airport, which later changed to Zia International Airport, to honour Shah Jala, one of the most venerated Sufi saints from Bangladesh. Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport caters to Bangladesh's flag carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines, as a primary hub. It is also known to be a hub for many private Bangladesh-based airlines such as Regent Airways, US-Bangla Airlines and Novoair. It currently accommodates a whopping 18.5 million passengers. The first landing strip was constructed in 1941, at Kurmitola, by the British government and used for World War II's airfare.

About Airport Terminals

There are two functional terminals available at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. A third one is being constructed to expand the passenger capacity and to add more features to the airport. Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 both have international flight functions. They are located in the same building. Terminal 1 is on the ground floor, and it is used as an international arrivals hall. Meanwhile, Terminal 2 is on the upper floor and serves as the departure hall for international travels. In the domestic terminal, the arrivals and departure halls are present on the same floor. A designated VIP terminal has also been constructed with a view to accommodate Bangladesh's delegates. The terminal is only 200 meters away from the international terminals.

Terminal 3 is currently under works, the foundation of the same was laid in 2019 by Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The terminal is slated to complete on 2022. A portion of the financial assistance is being provided by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The new terminal is said to include passenger terminal with a floor that is sprawled across 64,000 sq ft, a VVIP complex, a multi-level parking bay in the building terminal and the capacity to accommodate 20 million passengers.

About Airport Authority

Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport falls under the ownership of the Government of Bangladesh. It is currently operated by Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh (CAAB). The statutory body functions as a regulatory frame to cater to all activities that relate to aviation in Bangladesh. CAAB is recognised nationwide and is the central aviation authority. It operates under the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism. The authority is headquartered in Dhaka's Kurmitola. Over the years, Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport has witnessed several upgradations and development schemes to make it better.

The airport is currently working on several extension and up-gradation plans. There is a passenger extension apron that is being constructed from foxtrot taxiway to the export cargo apron recently concluded. Along with this, Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport has also laid new asphalt concrete on the runway. Along with this, consultancy services have also upgraded the airport's premise. Meanwhile, some of the works in action are improving the security system of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Additionally, there are works to develop the entire airport and expand it to accommodate more airlines.

Top airlines flying from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport

Bangladesh's proximity with India has enabled the functioning of several direct flights to the city of Dhaka. There are three Indian airlines that operate from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. In fact, the Indian airlines that operate from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport are Air India, IndiGo and SpiceJet. Along with some Indian airlines, there are a few international airlines to that function from the airport. Airlines that fly from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport include Air Arabia, Air Asia, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Cathay Dragon, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Druk Air, Emirates, Gulf Air, Himalaya Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Maldivian, Malindo Air, Qatar Airways, Saudia, Singapore Airlines, SriLankan Airlines, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines and US-Bangla Airlines. The international airlines mostly connect with Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern countries. Cities such as Abu Dhabi, Kathmandu, Kuala Lumpur, Medina, Riyadh, Singapore, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Colombo, Istanbul, Doha and more, are well-connected with Dhaka.

Facilities at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport

Baggage - The airport provides several baggage services that one can avail. At the entrance of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, you can find trolleys to take your luggage inside the airport with ease. There are baggage wrapping services also available along with porter facilities and storage. For baggage wrapping, you might have to inform the airlines beforehand so they can fix it for you.

Lounge - The terminals also have a lounge. The airport lounge has services such as restaurants, relaxing spaces, complimentary shower booths and more. You can avail all of this along with their good hospitality, provided your ticket or premium membership at any of their airlines allows.

Medical services - With a view to providing services in times of medical emergencies, Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport has also ensured to keep clinics in their premise. Along with clinics, the airport also has pharmacies as well as an ambulance. This is to make sure that there are enough amenities available in times of emergencies.

ATM and banks - The airport also offers some of their local banks at the premise to help with transfers and withdrawals of money. You can get access to your personal funds from the airport and avail their bank services. Further, there are foreign exchange facilities also available at the banks. They give decent rates too, making the currency exchange easier and affordable. ATMs are also present at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport so you can withdraw money and use it for currency exchange.

Hotel booking - At the airport, there is a dedicated travel agent booth. They basically help travellers with information about the city along with tours and travel packages that one can avail. The booking booth also has hotel recommendations and accommodation facilities. You can book your hotel at the airport itself. It's convenient and easy as you wouldn't have to traverse through the city a lot before finding the ideal place to stay. They have a range of hotels from mid-range to luxury.

WiFi - Free WiFi is a perk the airport gives away. This is mostly at the international terminal for passengers travelling from other countries. You can get details on how to log in to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport's network at their information desk or even the official website.

Entertainment deck - With a view to indulging and entertaining the travellers who are waiting for their boarding, the airport has also facilitated entertainment decks. These dedicated spaces have TVs that you can watch. You might have to share the space with other passengers as well since the entertainment deck's area is limited.

Prayer room - Multi-faith rooms are also available at the airport but separated for men and women. These can be found at the arrival as well as departure zones of the terminals.

Restaurants and cafe - At the departure and arrival sections of the terminals, there are many restaurants and cafes also installed. You can find dedicated restaurant spaces as well as a food court for affordable munchies and snacks. The same can be availed at the airport lounge as well. However, the lounge comes with an exorbitant cost and is exclusive to specific ticket holders or premium members.

Visitor's facility - A special deck has been installed which is called as visitor's faculty. Basically, all visitors who are dropping off passengers or expecting them, use this space to relax.

How to reach Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport

Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport has a perfect connection with downtown Dhaka. The government has constructed an eight-lane Airport Road to directly connect the airport and the main city. You can take this route to reach the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. There are many ways to reach the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport from the city centre.

Public transport

There is a dedicated railway station that directly connects with the airport. In fact, the station called Airport Railway Station is located juxtaposed to the airport. The train can be taken from within the city. You can take the train to reach the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Since the airport is currently undergoing tremendous expansion plans, the entire city has been engulfed by the airport. This means you can easily make it to the airport from anywhere in the city.

Taxicabs

Taxicab and rental services are also available at the airport and from anywhere in the city. In fact, if you have checked into one of the big hotels with airport shuttle services, you can make use of the same facility. The prices are reasonable, but you might have to haggle with the driver before getting into the car. There are many hotels located in proximity to the airport so you can easily get a room in one of these accommodation services. Rickshaw services are also available that would reach you to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

  About Hamad Airport

Hamad International Airport is the only international airport that caters to the state of Qatar and is situated in its capital city, Doha. The airport has replaced the former international airport, Doha International Airport, to be the principal airport that serves the city of Doha and the country Qatar. Earlier, the airport was referred to as the New Doha International Airport, the airport was renamed as Hamad International Airport. It was supposed to open for business and flight operations in 2009. However, due to some cost delays and a series of conundrums, the airport finally reopened in 2014 with a grand ceremony of Qatar Airways' flight landing from nearby Doha International. Following the same, several of Qatar Airways' aircraft and other flights functioning from the old airport were shifted to the new airport, a month after Hamad International Airport opened. The airport has been named after Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the former Emir of Qatar. Since its genesis, the airport has been raking tremendous praise and accolades for being one of the best airports of the Middle East. In fact, it was voted as the Best Airport (in the category of 30-40 million passenger accommodation in a year) and Best Airport Staff in the Middle East in 2020.

Talks about constructing an all-new international airport in Doha started in 2003 with constructions commencing in 2005. Hamad International Airport is located about 5 km the east of older Doha International Airport. The airport is spread across an area of 5,500 acres of land. Initially, the airport was set to only cater to airlines that do not have lounge access to be utilised. The airport was designed to balance out the increase in passenger volume and air traffic witnessed by the city. Initially, the annual capacity of passengers as proposed was 29 million. However, upon completion of the new airport, the capacity also extended to 50 million passengers in a year. Some estimates suggest that the airport has the capacity of accommodating over 93 million passengers in a year, as opposed to the 50 million stated. With this fact, Hamad International Airport becomes the second largest in the region, following Dubai International Airport. The new airport is also set to handle over 320,000 aircraft movement along with 2 million tonnes of cargo in a year.

About Hamad International Airport Terminal

Hamad International Airport only has one terminal but is spread out in about five concourses that have been named alphabetically. These concourses have been designed by the American design, architecture, engineering and urban planning firm, HOK. Meanwhile, the contract to develop the airport was awarded to Bechtel. Here are details of the concourses at the Hamad International Airport.

Concourse A - The concourse has the ten passenger gates that are connected to jet bridges. It is located west of the check-in section of the main terminal. The two gates have been designed specifically to accommodate Airbus A380.

Concourse B - This concourse accommodates ten passenger gates which are connected to jet bridges, located at the east of the main check-in area. Out of the ten gates, two have been reserved to accommodate Airbus A380. Ten airlines operations form the old Doha International Airport has been shifted to Concourse B. Further, some facilities include smoking rooms, duty-free stores and family lounge areas.

Concourse C - The concourse consists of 13 gates which are connected to jet bridges and yet again, two of them are reserved for Airbus A380. The concourse was opened in 2014.

Concourse D - The concourse is divided into two levels, gates 1 - 4's operations being conducted on the first level while gates 18 - 24 have their operations on the ground level. This concourse is fully functional.

Concourse E - The concourse is fully functional and has a similar layout as Concourse D. It has been stated that Concourses D and E are due to be extended with talks of an additional Concourse F that is set to be installed. However, the plans haven't been finalised yet.

The terminal also has facilities of First Class and Business Class lounges installed. One of the biggest highlights of Hamad International Airport's terminal interiors is the prominent gigantic bronze statue of a teddy bear with its head inserted in a lamp. Often referred to as Lamp Bear, the sculpture is the creation of Swiss artist Urs Fischer. It has been put for display at the grand foyer and is surrounded by the airport's duty-free shopping hall. The Lamp Bear statue initially belonged to the Seagrams Building plaza in New York City. However, it was later purchased by a member of the Qatari royal family at an auction for a whopping USD 6.8 million. The structure weighs about 18-20 tonnes and is seven meters tall.

About airport authority

Hamad International Airport is owned and operated by Qatar Airways. The airline is responsible for bringing forth a whole new airport and replacing the old Doha International Airport. The airport authority has been striving to make Hamad International Airport as one of the best in the world by offering world-class amenities and aircraft perks. They aim to create new records and break many more with constant expansion plans. Qatar Airways has also initiated Hamad International Airport to be the first in the world to design structures specifically to accommodate Airbus A380.

The airport authority plans to expand the airport to accommodate the footfall of passengers who will be visiting the city to watch the FIFA 2022 World Cup. It has been speculated that the airport will need to accommodate a massive passenger capacity as the world cup would bring more passengers and travellers from around the world to Doha. Further, as part of their expansion plans, the airport authority also aims to beautify the central building by adding a tropical garden and a 268-meter tall water feature. They plan to emulate the water feature that is found at Singapore Changi Airport's Jewel complex. Qatar Airways also has proposals to expand its lounge space and make it the world's largest airport lounge.

Facilities at the Hamad International Airport

Hamad International Airport has a slew of exquisite and world-class services and facilities that make it one of the best airports in the Middle East. With various facilities such as baggage wrapping, porter services, first-class and business class lounge experience, airline-specific lounge, spas, airport hotels and more, travelling to Hamad International Airport is an experience.

Top airlines flying from the Hamad International Airport

Hamad International Airport caters to a massive number of international destinations by accommodating a slew of airlines. Apart from reserving space for the national carrier, Qatar Airways, some of the airlines that operate from Hamad International Airport include Air India, Air India Express, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, British Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, GoAir, Himalayan Airlines, IndiGo, Iran Air, Kuwait Airways, Nepal Airlines, Oman Air, Pakistan International Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Royal Jordanian, SalamAir, SriLankan Airlines, Syrian Air, Turkish Airlines and US-Bangla Airlines. These airlines operating from Hamad International Airport has flights to major cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kochi, Kannur, Mangalore, Dhaka, London, Addis Ababa, Bangalore, Kuwait City, Kathmandu, Muscat, Islamabad, Manila, Paris, Venice, Seoul, Tokyo, Sydney, Zurich, Chicago, Hong Kong, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, Colombo and more.

How to reach the Hamad International Airport

Hamad International Airport is blessed with a slew of connections to the main city of Doha. Travellers can take public bus services, personal taxi cabs, metro and hire car rentals and chauffer-driven limousines.

By Bus

The bus services in Doha have excellent connections to the airport. The buses are operated by Mowasalat, which is the state's transport company. Some of the routes covered by the bus services also include a route to the airport. You can catch a bus to reach Hamad International Airport at affordable rates and the comfort of an air-conditioned bus. The vehicles are clean and maintained perfectly. Not to mention details of the bus with schedules have been shared on the airport's official website.

By Metro

Hamad International Airport has a direct Metro connection. The airport has fast and frequent Metro services that are available on all seven days of a week. You can reach Hamad International Airport from any of the tourist attractions in the city of Doha. You can also use the Metro line and plan a travel itinerary to check out some of the exquisite tourist attractions of Doha. Live updates of the Metro train as well as their schedules are flashed on the station's monitors.

By Taxicab and car rentals

From booking a car rental to hailing a taxi cab, there are many such transport options that you can avail at the airport. You can even opt for airport shuttle service at the hotel you are staying in (provided they have this facility) to reach Hamad International Airport. Further, to upscale your trip, you can book a chauffer-driven limousine service also. The airport has travel booths where you can figure out the ideal transport facility for your budget.