With the 2022 World Cup approaching, the pandemic prevention policy of the host Qatar has also changed.
On October 26, local time, the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) of Qatar in Doha announced that with the continuous decline in the number of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus pneumonia) cases worldwide and in Qatar, as well as the continuous implementation of Qatar's national COVID-19 vaccination program, it will no longer be necessary to provide a negative nucleic acid test certificate when entering Qatar in the future, which has officially taken effect on November 1, 2022.
Entry Policy
✯ When an individual enters a medical institution in Qatar, he or she must submit the health status applied for by Ehteraz.
✯Qatari citizens and residents are no longer required to take a rapid antigen test or PCR test within 24 hours of arriving in Qatar.
✯Visitors are no longer required to present a negative COVID PCR or rapid antigen test result before traveling to Qatar.
Qatar's Ministry of Public Health stressed that all citizens, residents and tourists must continue to take standard precautions to reduce the risk of infection. This includes full vaccination against COVID; Regular hand hygiene; Get tested if you have symptoms of coronavirus; As well as following a healthy lifestyle.
Qatar World Cup
The 22nd World Cup will be held in Qatar from November 21 to December 18, 2022, as the first World Cup to be held in the northern hemisphere winter, not only has special significance, but also the selection and decoration of the venues are very careful, imposing and connotative. Below, let's take a look at the 8 venues where the event will be held~
Lusail Stadium
When it comes to this special World Cup, one of the venues that must be mentioned is the "Golden Bowl" made in China - Lucel Stadium. The gold-clad stadium is the latest masterpiece by British architects Foster + Partners and is a close joint venture between CRCC International and Qatari local company HBK.
Image source: @Universal Architecture
This new world-class landmark is known as Qatar's national "No. 1 project" and is also the six "world's best" - this is the world's largest, most complex system, the highest design standards, the most advanced technology, the most international World Cup main venue, is currently the world's largest span of double-layer mesh roof single building.
Image source: @Universal Architecture
In December 2020, the imposing stadium was featured in the fifth set of banknotes issued by the Central Bank of Qatar, and "Made in China" appeared on the local currency for the first time.
Image source @Global Times
Things to do nearby:
Located on the shores of Pearl Harbour in Doha, Calata Cultural Village – is a combination of opera houses, concert halls, galleries, creative markets and museums where you can experience both local and emerging art.
Pearl of Qatar - an artificial island located on the west coast. With a Mediterranean-inspired marina, world-renowned high-end hotels and many top-brand boutiques, the island is known as "the pearl of the West Bay, the back garden of Doha".
Education City Stadium
Education City Stadium is known as the "Diamond of the Desert", and the use of diamond-shaped geometric patterns is the most distinctive feature of the venue's exterior. This allows the venue to appear in different colors depending on the position of the sun at different times of the day.
Ali Aldosaari, Managing Director of Education City Stadium, said: "The geometric pattern of the façade not only supports the frame structure of the stadium, they also act as 'holes' that allow air to circulate to regulate the temperature of the stadium. ”
Things to do nearby:
Doha Education City – Qatar's academic centre and arts and cultural centre. The National Library of Qatar and the Education City Mosque are located here, which is a sacred place for cultivating emotions.
Course 974
Undoubtedly one of the most creative stadium designs in the history of the World Cup, the stadium will be built from shipping containers, movable seats and other modular building components, making it the world's first fully detachable football stadium.
The seating capacity is 40,000 people. The "974" in the stadium name refers to the 974 containers in which the stadium was built, and "974" is also the international calling code for Qatar.
Things to do nearby:
Qatar National Museum – known as the "Desert Rose", uses light and shadow technology combined with special internal structures to create an immersive time-space exhibition for visitors.
Museum of Islamic Art - I.M. Pei's "Harvesting Works" by I.M. Pei. It is the most comprehensive museum dedicated to Islamic art to date.
Waqif Traditional Market - Doha's oldest Arabic bazaar. There is a wide variety of specialty goods and food, traditional music everywhere, and folk art performances.
Janub Stadium
Janub Stadium was designed by the late Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid. The design of the course is inspired by traditional dhows. Janub Stadium pays homage to the maritime history of Waukla by combining tradition and modernity with a futuristic design.
Inspired by the city of Vokra and the surroundings of the stadium, she decided to incorporate nautical elements into the design of the course. Janub Stadium looks like a pearl from the outside and a dhow from the inside.
Things to do nearby:
Awakra Market - Known as the Second Waqiv Market, the architectural design is antique with dozens of shops, cafes and restaurants, a 3km stretch of coastline, and a walkable coastal promenade, like a mixture of Waqif Market and Katara Cultural Village.
Lai Yang Stadium
A new gymnasium renovated on the basis of Ahmed Ben Ali Stadium. Inside the stadium, red and black seats pay tribute to the fans of the Lai Yang team, because red and black are the main colors of the Lai Yang team's jersey.
Abdullah Al Fahani, the stadium's manager, said: "The design of this stadium symbolizes Qatari culture. The stadium's luminous exterior and shape tell the story of Qatar and showcase the many dimensions of Qatar, such as the importance of family, the beautiful desert, the local flora and fauna, and indigenous and international trade. ”
Things to do nearby:
Sheikh Faisal bin Qassem Al Thani Museum - A private museum that is often featured, the collection of works collected by Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani himself includes a variety of artworks, personal artefacts and historical heritage, bringing to life in pre-oil Qatar and the stories behind it.
Khalifa International Stadium
Khalifa International Stadium is not only the main stadium for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but also hosted the 2019 World Championships in Athletics in Doha. To host the 2022 World Cup, the stadium has been redesigned and its capacity has been further expanded from 50,000 to 68,030.
In order to provide a better playing environment, powerful air conditioning is also installed inside.
Things to do nearby:
Aspire Park - is the largest park in Doha. There are many rare tree species, clear fountains, and lakes in the park, so you can take a walk and relax on a sunny day.
Villagio Mall - One of Doha's most luxurious and famous shopping malls. The design recreates the appearance of an Italian mountain town and has a 150-meter-long indoor canal.
Somma Stadium
Located in Doha's Somama district, Somma Stadium has an exterior design inspired by the traditional hat ghafiya of Arab men, with a unique woven pattern that creates good ventilation while highlighting the Islamic design.
The group stage to the 1/4 final during the World Cup will be held here.
Things to do nearby:
Doha Corniche - A seven-kilometre pedestrian corridor that extends across the Arabian Gulf. Walking along the Corniche, you can enjoy the panoramic view of Doha and feel the refreshing sea breeze.
Beit Stadium
Located in the Al Ikol area, Beit Stadium is another new stadium built in preparation for the Qatar World Cup, inspired by the traditional Qatari Bedouin tent, Bayt Al Sha 'ar, from which it takes its name, where the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup will be held.
In Bedouin times, tents were decorated with characteristic black stripes and red Sadu motifs, which were recreated inside the stadium, representing desert hospitality and welcoming fans from all over the world.
Things to do nearby:
Aikol Beach - fully equipped and also has a children's playground, perfect for the whole family. You can play on the beach, watch the fishing boats passing by in the sea, and experience the life of the local people.
After reading the introduction of these 8 venues, have you already felt the strong World Cup atmosphere? If you have a chance to visit Qatar, don't forget to admire the architectural beauty of these venues while experiencing the World Cup!
*The unmarked image sources are from the official account of Qatar Tourism Authority