# Hamad International Airport (DOH)

> Doha, QA · about 4 km (2.5 mi) east of central Doha

Web: https://airport.flights/airport/doh
JSON: https://airport.flights/api/airport/doh.json

## Facts

- **IATA**: DOH
- **ICAO**: OTHH
- **Timezone**: Asia/Qatar
- **Runways**: 2
- **Terminals**: 1
- **Passengers**: 46.4M/yr
- **Worldwide rank**: #6
- **Hub for**: Qatar Airways
- **Official site**: http://dohahamadairport.com

## Overview

## Welcome

Hamad International Airport (DOH), located just about 4 km east of central Doha, resembles more of a luxury shopping mall and art gallery than a traditional transit hub. It houses grand public artworks like Urs Fischer’s Lamp Bear and high-end retail options sprinkled throughout its premises. It's a particular haven for those flying Qatar Airways long-haul, providing access to the Al Mourjan Business Lounges, which reviewers often compare to top city hotels with their à la carte dining and shower suites.

## At a glance

Serving nearly 46.4 million passengers annually, Hamad International Airport operates with one main terminal that covers a passenger terminal complex of 44 gates. It's a significant hub for Qatar Airways, facilitating connections to a plethora of destinations worldwide. The airport is equipped with multiple dining and shopping establishments, as well as leisure options like an airside swimming pool.

## Terminals & layout

The Main terminal is a sprawling space featuring a Passenger Terminal Complex, with 44 gates laid out in a linear fashion. The central plaza dominated by the iconic Lamp Bear acts as an anchor, branching out to Concourses D and E. Here, travelers can enjoy quiet spots away from the bustling center. The airport also prides itself on being a cultural hub, with large-scale art installations scattered throughout the terminal beyond the central art piece.

## Getting to and from the city

Located only about two-and-a-half miles east of Doha's city center, the airport offers several transport options. The **Doha Metro Red Line** manages the journey from HIA to Msheireb in roughly 18–20 minutes, with fares around 2 QAR using a Standard card. Taxis are readily available, taking around 20–30 minutes to reach central Doha. Fares are typically between 40-70 QAR. The **Karwa Bus Route 747** is another choice, taking about 35–50 minutes with a fare of approximately 2–3 QAR.

## Traveller essentials

For those driving, the airport offers various parking options, including Valet Parking at 275 QAR per day and Economy Parking for budget-minded travelers at 145 QAR daily. Passengers can also find comprehensive services within the terminal, such as free Wi-Fi—though connection stability can falter during peak travel times. Savvy travelers recommend using a VPN for any significant online work.

## Dining & shopping highlights

Rich dining options are abundant with choices like **Caviar House & Prunier** for upscale dining, **Nando's** for a flavorful hit, and **Le Pain Quotidien** for bakery delights. Shopping enthusiasts can explore high-end boutiques like **Hermès**, **Chanel**, and **Gucci**, or local gems like the gourmet food sections in **Qatar Duty-Free**.

## Lounges

Hamad International houses an impressive selection of 15 lounges. The **Al Mourjan Business Lounge South**, located near Concourse C/D, is frequently praised for its top-tier amenities, including shower suites and quiet rooms. Meanwhile, the **Oryx Lounge** offers paid access for around 74 USD when space allows, providing a more budget-friendly retreat with Wi-Fi, snacks, and comfortable seating.

## Insider tips

- **Insider:** For a quality drink, head to **Caviar House & Prunier** near the Lamp Bear, a unique spot for alcohol airside, open 24 hours.

- **Time:** Consider a 175 QAR day pass at the **Vitality Wellbeing & Fitness Centre**, boasting a pool and spa facilities for long layovers.

- **Quiet:** Seek quieter spots at the ends of Concourses D and E, away from the busy Lamp Bear atrium.

- **Local:** Explore art installations beyond the bear. A walk between Concourses C and E doubles as a gallery tour.

- **Avoid:** During a tight connection, resist the allure of the central shopping plaza and proceed directly to your gate, especially if in the far D or E areas.

- **Value:** Families should check out themed play areas by gates C/D/E, particularly less crowded during overnight layovers.

- **Money:** If planning multiple metro rides, buy a **Qatar Rail travel card** for cheaper and quicker journeys instead of single-use tickets.

## Terminals (1)

- **Passenger Terminal Complex** — 44 gates · Qatar Airways

## Dining (20)

- **Burger King**
- **Caviar House & Prunier**
- **Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf**
- **Costa Coffee**
- **Eat Greek**
- **Evergreen Organics**
- **Harrods Tea Room**
- **Illy Caffè**
- **Jamocha Café**
- **Le Pain Quotidien**
- **Marché**
- **Nando's**
- **Negroni**
- **Ocean Basket**
- **PAUL**
- **Red Mango**
- **Shake Shack**
- **Soho Coffee Co**
- **Starbucks**
- **Subway**

## Lounges (15)

- **Al Maha Arrival Lounge - Before Immigration** — Main · Walk-in guest, Al Maha website booking, Visa Airport Companion, DragonPass
- **Al Maha Arrival Lounge** — Main · Eligible passengers arriving on Qatar Airways flights
- **Al Maha Lounge** — Main · Contract lounge
- **Al Maha Transit Lounge** — Main · Paid access, meet and assist · $63
- **Al Mourjan Business Lounge North** — Main · Qatar Airways business class
- **Al Mourjan Business Lounge South** — Main · Qatar Airways business class
- **Al Safwa First Lounge** — Main · Qatar Airways first class
- **Business Class Lounge** — Main · Qatar Airways Gold and oneworld Sapphire
- **First Class Lounge** — Main · Qatar Airways Platinum and oneworld Emerald
- **Gold Lounge South** — Main · Qatar Airways frequent flyer · $87
- **Mariner Lounge** — Main · Eligible seafarers & offshore workers
- **Orchid Lounge** — Onetime access via select airlines
- **Oryx Lounge** — Main · Paid access, select airlines and Priority Pass · $74
- **Platinum Lounge South** — Main · Qatar Airways frequent flyer
- **sleep 'n fly Lounge** — Paid nap pods

## Shops (24)

- **Al Jazeera Perfumes**
- **Apple Shop**
- **Chanel**
- **Day2Day** — Main · Beauty, Skincare and Perfumes, Food, Beverages & Confectionery
- **Godiva**
- **Gold Souq**
- **Gucci**
- **Harrods**
- **Hermès**
- **Hugo Boss**
- **Ladurée**
- **Louis Vuitton**
- **Moleskine**
- **Montblanc**
- **Ooredoo** — Main · Electronics
- **Q-Denim** — Main · Fashion
- **Qatar Duty Free**
- **Rolex**
- **Samsung**
- **Swarovski**
- **Tumi**
- **Victoria's Secret**
- **Virgin Megastore**
- **WHSmith**

## Parking (8)

- **Economy Parking** — Budget long stay · 145 QAR/day, 15/hr
- **Long Term Parking** — Long stay
- **Overflow Parking** — Peak period use
- **Premium Parking** — Short stay · 200 QAR/day, 20/hr
- **Short Term Parking North** — Short stay
- **Short Term Parking South** — Short stay
- **Staff Parking** — Employee parking
- **Valet Parking** — Curbside valet · 275 QAR (Premium Valet)/day

## Ground transport (12)

- **Car Rental Shuttle** — Rental car transfer
- **Careem** — Rideshare · Travel time is effectively the same as other car options: about 20–30 min to central Doha under normal conditions.https://www.reddit.com/r/travel/comments/ej8gfg/getting_around_doha_taxis_uber_metro/ · Reddit comparisons indicate Careem prices from DOH to central areas are broadly similar to Uber, commonly falling in the 30–50 QAR range before promos.https://www.reddit.com/r/Doha/comments/ejl3g2/airport_taxis_karwa_vs_uber/ · Users on r/Doha report typical estimated pickup times of 5–10 min during the day, occasionally longer late at night or during busy periods.https://www.reddit.com/r/Doha/comments/ejl3g2/airport_taxis_karwa_vs_uber/
- **Doha Metro Red Line** — Metro · About 18–20 min from HIA to Msheireb, according to riders timing the trip on r/travel and r/Doha · Around 2 QAR one‑way with a Standard card, per Qatar Rail fare info repeatedly cited in r/Doha threads · Every 5–7 min in daytime, dropping to around every 10–12 min later in the evening, based on rider‑reported headways on r/Doha
- **Hotel Shuttle Buses** — Hotel transfer · TripAdvisor reports indicate actual ride times vary widely (20–50 min) depending on whether the shuttle is direct or makes multiple hotel stops.https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g294009-d8781268-r919854368-La_Villa_Hotel-Doha.html · Confusion over whether the shuttle is free or chargeable · Often run on fixed schedules
- **Intercity Coach to Al Khor** — Coach bus
- **Intercity Coach to Lusail** — Coach bus
- **Karwa Bus Route 109** — City bus · Riders report around 45–60 min from the airport to deeper residential zones served by 109.https://www.reddit.com/r/Doha/comments/lkm4x5/karwa_bus_109_from_airport_any_experience/ · Threads on r/Doha indicate standard Karwa bus fares of around 2–3 QAR with a smartcard apply on the 109 as well. · Users mention approximate headways of 30–40 min in the day and less frequent late evenings; exact timetable details are not consistently given.https://www.reddit.com/r/Doha/comments/lkm4x5/karwa_bus_109_from_airport_any_experience/
- **Karwa Bus Route 109A** — City bus · Users suggest broadly similar journey times to 109 for comparable distances, roughly 45–60 min to outer residential areas.https://www.reddit.com/r/Doha/comments/lkm4x5/karwa_bus_109_from_airport_any_experience/ · Reddit posts treating 109 and 109A together indicate the same Karwa bus fare of roughly 2–3 QAR with a smartcard. · Posts imply 109A runs less frequently than the base 109, with approximate gaps up to 45–60 min at times, but no consistent specific frequency is reported.https://www.reddit.com/r/Doha/comments/lkm4x5/karwa_bus_109_from_airport_any_experience/
- **Karwa Bus Route 747** — City bus · Users on r/Doha report about 35–50 min from the airport to central areas depending on traffic and exact stop.https://www.reddit.com/r/Doha/comments/ffp0hm/airport_bus_747_anyone_used_it/ · Reddit posts indicate the standard Karwa bus fare of around 2–3 QAR per trip applies on route 747 when using the smartcard.https://www.reddit.com/r/Doha/comments/ffp0hm/airport_bus_747_anyone_used_it/ · Redditors mention roughly every 20–30 min in daytime, with less frequent service at night. Exact timetable details are not consistently reported.https://www.reddit.com/r/Doha/comments/ffp0hm/airport_bus_747_anyone_used_it/
- **Limo Service** — Chauffeur car · Limo rides generally mirror taxi timing: around 20–30 min to central Doha in normal traffic, per business traveller reports.https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/middle-east-africa/2079558-doha-airport-ground-transport-options.html · Several times more than a taxi or Uber
- **Mowasalat Karwa Taxi** — Metered taxi · About 20–30 min to central Doha, per multiple rider reports on r/Doha and r/travel.https://www.reddit.com/r/travel/comments/ej8gfg/getting_around_doha_taxis_uber_metro/ · Reddit reports cluster around 40–70 QAR from DOH to central Doha/West Bay in normal traffic, depending on distance.https://www.reddit.com/r/Doha/comments/kx72gc/taxis_from_hamad_airport/ · No fixed frequency; taxis queue continuously at the airport rank and users on r/Doha generally report waits under 10 minutes even at night.https://www.reddit.com/r/Doha/comments/kx72gc/taxis_from_hamad_airport/
- **Uber** — Rideshare · Riders report 20–30 min travel time to most central districts, similar to taxis, assuming moderate traffic.https://www.reddit.com/r/travel/comments/ej8gfg/getting_around_doha_taxis_uber_metro/ · Reddit data points show Uber rides from DOH to central Doha typically in the 30–50 QAR range outside major events.https://www.reddit.com/r/Doha/comments/ejl3g2/airport_taxis_karwa_vs_uber/ · On r/Doha, users generally find cars available within 5–10 min during the day, extending to around 15–20 min in the middle of the night or during big events.https://www.reddit.com/r/Doha/comments/ejl3g2/airport_taxis_karwa_vs_uber/

## Insider tips

- _Insider_: For a quality drink, head to Caviar House & Prunier near the Lamp Bear, a unique spot for alcohol airside, open 24 hours.
- _Time_: Consider a 175 QAR day pass at the Vitality Wellbeing & Fitness Centre, boasting a pool and spa facilities for long layovers.
- _Quiet_: Seek quieter spots at the ends of Concourses D and E, away from the busy Lamp Bear atrium.
- _Local_: Explore art installations beyond the bear. A walk between Concourses C and E doubles as a gallery tour.
- _Avoid_: During a tight connection, resist the allure of the central shopping plaza and proceed directly to your gate, especially if in the far D or E areas.
- _Value_: Families should check out themed play areas by gates C/D/E, particularly less crowded during overnight layovers.
- _Money_: If planning multiple metro rides, buy a Qatar Rail travel card for cheaper and quicker journeys instead of single-use tickets.