Hamad International Airport opens state-of-the-art new concourses
Completed ahead of schedule, this development elevates traveller comfort and further establishes Doha as a key global aviation hub, DOH said.
The expansion project, which began in 2018, marks the culmination of the airport's ambitious development plan. This milestone represents the final phase of a transformational journey initiated in 2022 with the unveiling of the Orchard, a 6,000-sq-m indoor tropical garden.
The new concourses integrate into the existing terminal, introducing cutting-edge technology and enhanced facilities to meet growing passenger demand. The terminal now spans 845,000 sq m -- a 14% increase – while the addition of 17 new aircraft contact gates increases the total to 62, nearly 40% more than before, ensuring greater connectivity, streamlined operations, and significantly reducing bus transfers.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer Eng Badr Mohammed Al-Meer said: 'Hamad International Airport is more than a gateway; it is a vital pillar of Qatar's growth and global connectivity. I am pleased to see this expansion project, with conclusion of both concourses going live, which I have personally been involved with since 2018. While many global airport expansions have faced delays, we are proud to have delivered this major development ahead of schedule. This achievement reflects our commitment to operational excellence and strategic planning.
"This is not just about increasing capacity -- it is about strengthening the entire Qatar Airways network, enhancing operational resilience, and supporting Qatar's economic growth in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030. This development allows us to meet the evolving demands of global travel while reinforcing Qatar's position as a leading aviation hub.'
Hamad Ali Al Khater, Chief Operating Officer at Hamad International Airport, said: 'Our focus is to deliver operational excellence that supports both current demands and future growth. The opening of Concourses D and E marks a significant milestone in expanding our capacity and enhancing operational efficiency. This combined development streamlines passenger flow, optimizes resource management, and strengthens airline connectivity, ensuring smoother and more efficient passenger services.'
The newly inaugurated Concourses D and E feature the following enhancements:
• Seamless boarding through smart technology: The new concourses feature cutting-edge self-boarding systems, streamlining the boarding process for a faster, more efficient journey. Smart technology enables swift document verification, reduces wait times, and ensures smooth transitions from terminal to aircraft.
• Enhanced connectivity and global reach: The expansion significantly strengthens connectivity for both passengers and airlines. With increased gate capacity and optimised flight operations, the airport can accommodate a greater number of international carriers and offer more direct routes to key global destinations.
• Elevating the Passenger Journey: The expansion prioritises passenger comfort and convenience, offering upgraded facilities to cater to diverse traveller needs. A wider selection of premium retail outlets and global dining brands enhances the leisure experience, while also providing ergonomically designed seating. With the D&E Expansion, Qatar Duty Free is unveiling nine new retail outlets food and beverage venues, enhancing the airport's retail space by 2,700 sq m. This initiative further cements Hamad International Airport's standing as a beacon of innovation, a world-class destination for shopping, dining, and unforgettable experiences.
• A commitment to sustainability: Hamad International Airport remains a leader in sustainable aviation, with Concourses D and E designed to meet GSAS 4-Star Design & Build Certification and aiming for LEED Gold Certification. The development incorporates energy-efficient systems, innovative water management solutions, and optimized thermal comfort strategies, reinforcing the airport's alignment with global sustainability objectives.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Insider
26-06-2025
- Gulf Insider
Qatar Airways CEO Reveals Details Behind Travel Recovery
Qatar Airways successfully restored its global flight operations within 18 hours after an unprecedented shutdown of Qatari airspace on June 23, following a missile attack near Al Udeid Air Base. The escalation, which temporarily halted all departures from Doha and forced over 90 inbound flights to divert mid-air, led to widespread travel disruption. In an open letter to passengers, Badr Mohammed Al Meer, Group Chief Executive Officer, has explained how the airline recovered from the disruption and co-ordinated a travel operation with tens of thousands of passengers. Al Meer said flights were redirected to Saudi Arabia, Turkey, India, Oman and the UAE, while thousands of passengers were put up in hotel rooms and more than 35,000meals were served to stranded people. See the full letter from Badr Mohammed Al Meer below. 151 flights disrupted globally 20,000+ passengers diverted mid-air 90+ flights en route to Doha at the time of airspace closure 25 flights diverted to Saudi Arabia 18 flights diverted to Turkey 15 flights diverted to India 13 flights diverted to Oman 5 flights diverted to the UAE 10,000+ passengers already in transit inside Hamad International Airport 35,000+ meals distributed to stranded travellers 4,600+ passengers provided with hotel accommodation 3,200 hotel rooms secured across Doha 390 flights operated on 24 June during recovery 578 scheduled flights resumed by 25 June 22,000+ passengers in Doha transit at 05:00 on 24 June 11,000+ passengers resumed travel by morning wave on 24 June All 20,000 diverted passengers rebooked and cleared within 24 hours 18 hours to resume full operations across the network 'To all our passengers who place their trust in Qatar Airways, 'This week brought an operational crisis few airlines will ever encounter, and one that challenged the very core of what it means to run a global airline. 'At around 6pm local time on Monday, June 23, an unexpected and unprecedented closure of Qatari airspace forced Qatar Airways to suspend global operations with immediate effect. 'Shortly after, airspace was also closed in Bahrain, the UAE, and Kuwait. Hamad International Airport, one of the world's busiest and most connected global hubs, was brought to a standstill, with almost 100 aircraft en route to Doha, several already on approach to our runways, and others lining up for departure. 'In the moments that followed, a missile attack was launched from Iran on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. As missiles entered the skies above Qatar, air defence systems were activated and the State of Qatar's Armed Forces took swift, decisive action to protect its people, defend its territory, and ensure the safety of everyone within its borders. 'At the time, over 90 Qatar Airways flights carrying more than 20,000 passengers to Doha, were forced to divert immediately. '25 flights diverted into airports across Saudi Arabia, 18 into Turkey, 15 into India, 13 into Oman, and 5 into the United Arab Emirates. 'The remaining aircraft were re-routed to major hubs including London, Barcelona, and others across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Badr Mohammed Al Meer, Group Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Airways 'All departures from Doha were suspended until 12.01am on June 24 at the earliest. Our routine, seamlessly synchronised global operation was, in an instant, scattered into dozens and dozens of disrupted flight scenarios across continents, each with their own complexities and requirements. 'Inside Hamad International Airport, over 10,000 passengers were already in transit, expecting to depart when the escalation occurred. They found themselves caught in the middle of one of the most severe and complex operational challenges in modern aviation history. 'Around the world, some of our flight crews had timed out of legal operating hours. Most of our fleet, including A380s carrying more than 450 passengers each, were now out of position, some grounded at airports with curfews. 'Several flights had to wait for clearance to re-enter restricted regional airspace. Aircraft routing plans were rewritten in parallel with passenger itineraries. Over 151 flights were immediately disrupted. Every part of the operation had to adapt in real time — without precedent, and without pause. 'The priority for us was clear: to care for our passengers impacted by the unprecedented situation that continued to unfold, and to restore our global operations as safely and swiftly as possible. 'Once airspace reopened shortly after midnight on Tuesday, June 24, diverted aircraft began returning to our Doha hub over the course of several hours — each arrival a step towards reassembling our operation. 'As these aircraft and their passengers disembarked at Hamad International Airport, the number of passengers in transit surged to over 22,000 by 5am local time. 'As an airline, our business continuity plans were activated, and our teams coordinated on hard resource planning, catering, ground transport, hotel accommodation, and real-time alignment with passenger movements, immigration, customs, and every airport stakeholder. Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar 'Over 4,600 customers were provided hotel accommodation, using approximately 3,200 rooms across Doha. 'Many of these passengers received onward boarding passes for their rescheduled flights before even leaving the terminal — allowing for a smoother re-entry once our operations resumed. 'Teams from across the airline group stepped into transit areas to assist passengers directly, rebooking journeys, prioritising medical cases, supporting families and elderly travellers, and manually rebuilding complex travel itineraries, some involving other airlines, and expired visas. 'Over 35,000 meals were distributed, and water, comfort kits, and reassurance were offered face to face, flight by flight. 'We increased capacity to destinations with high volumes of displaced passengers. Contact centre resources were scaled up to cope with global demand. We quickly established a flexible travel policy, allowing passengers who had not yet started their journeys to make changes or refund their bookings without fees. 'Across our global stations, ground handlers and partners moved quickly, supported by live coordination between our airport and airline operations control centres. 'A severe geopolitical escalation had forced the shutdown of our global hub, but our focus was to stay agile, adapt, and continue to deliver for our passengers. 'By Tuesday, June 24, Qatar Airways operated a total of 390 flights as we worked to rebuild our network and restore schedule integrity. 'All passengers from diverted flights — approximately 20,000 in total — were cleared within 24 hours. More than 11,000 resumed their journeys during the morning wave on June 24, with the remainder departing through the evening wave and morning bank on June 25. 'As of today, there are no passengers from diverted flights left stranded. Within just 18 hours, our scheduled operations had resumed. Wave by wave, the system began to stabilise. By the end of Tuesday, more than 58,000 passengers had departed Doha — moved not by chance, but by a coordinated effort from across the Qatar Airways Group to fulfil our responsibility during this unprecedented disruption. Today, June 25, our operation has stabilised even further, with 578 scheduled flights operating. 'This scale and speed of recovery reflects the depth of experience, planning, and commitment we're proud to uphold at Qatar Airways. 'To everyone who travelled with us during this difficult time — to those who waited patiently in long queues, to those who faced uncertainty, and to those who showed understanding in the face of a worrying and rapidly-evolving crisis — I thank you. 'We are deeply grateful for your patience and trust as we worked to take you to your destination as safely and smoothly as possible. 'My sincere appreciation goes to our teams across the airline, and to our partners around the world, for their immense efforts around the clock over the past few days. Faced with an extraordinary challenge, we came together to support our passengers, recover our network, and return our operations to normal. 'The professionalism and unity on display reflect the very best of what our airline group and our partners stand for. 'Millions place their trust in Qatar Airways to carry them across borders, continents, and time zones, — and that trust is not taken lightly. It is earned, through action, through responsibility, and a readiness to act when it matters most. 'Thank you for continuing to place that trust in us'. Also read: Boeing Wins Largest-ever Order From Qatar Airways: Trump
Trade Arabia
29-04-2025
- Trade Arabia
GWC plans major solar energy projects in Qatar
Gulf Warehousing Company (GWC) has announced the launch of one of the GCC's largest private solar energy projects - supercharging its sustainability efforts and cementing its role as a trailblazer in green logistics. This landmark initiative will see GWC work with Yellow Door Energy, a leading sustainable energy partner for businesses in the Middle East and Africa, to develop solar power plants across three strategic logistics hubs in the region: Logistics Village Qatar, Bu Sulba Warehousing Park and Al Wukair Logistics Park. Matthew Kearns, Acting Group CEO of GWC, said: 'This announcement marks a major milestone in integrating sustainable practices across all our operations. Warehouses are key to this, and we are excited to partner with Yellow Door Energy to introduce this innovative solution that will deliver real impact at these three sites. 'The Gulf enjoys an abundance of sunlight and this project will harness this renewable resource to power our operations, not only reducing our carbon footprint but also contributing to a more sustainable future for the region.' GWC offers a diverse and growing service portfolio, including contract logistics, freight forwarding, transportation, records management, and supply chain consulting. As a member of the UN Global Compact, it has committed to adopting sustainable and socially responsible policies across all its activities, with the aim of reducing carbon emissions by 3% for Scope 1 (direct emissions from fleet) and 6% for Scope 2 (indirect emissions from purchased energy), as well as 20% reduction in waste by 2030. GWC's latest sustainability initiative closely aligns with Qatar National Vision 2030, which targets 4 GW of new large-scale renewable energy capacity by 2030, with solar playing a key role. Jeremy Crane, Group CEO of Yellow Door Energy, said: 'We are honoured to embark on this partnership with GWC to accelerate its sustainability stewardship, reduce its energy costs and contribute to Qatar's Net Zero by 2050 target. As the largest and most trusted distributed solar developer in the region, Yellow Door Energy is well positioned to help large energy consumers, such as logistics industrial parks, decarbonise their operations and enhance their business resilience. With over 400 MWp of awarded solar assets across 150 sites, our team of dedicated energy professionals is ready to deploy capital, spearhead design and construction whilst adhering to the strictest QHSSE standards, and operate and maintain the solar power systems to maximize their performance during the tenure of the terms.' GWC has been widely recognised for its commitment to environmental stewardship, with Al Wukair Logistics Park, a site in this project, winning the 'Logistics Project of the Year' at the 2025 Logistics Middle East Awards, including for its green initiatives. GWC also earned a place among Forbes Middle East's Sustainability Leaders for 2024. Other trailblazing green projects include the Biobin recycling program, which processed food waste from GWC sites into 40 tons of premium compost that was donated to community garden projects last year.
Trade Arabia
29-04-2025
- Trade Arabia
QatarEnergy inaugurates Ras Laffan, Mesaieed solar plants
QatarEnergy inaugurated the Ras Laffan and Mesaieed solar PV power plants with a combined capacity of 875 megawatts (MW), which will more than double the State of Qatar's solar energy production to 1,675 MW of renewable energy. The inauguration ceremony took place in Ras Laffan Industrial City by His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of the State of Qatar and in the presence of Saad Al-Kaabi, the Minister of State for Energy Affairs, the President and CEO of QatarEnergy, and a number of Qatar's energy sector executives and senior officials. Al-Kaabi stressed that the start of operation of the Ras Laffan and Mesaieed solar power plants constitutes an important step towards achieving the fourth pillar of the Qatar National Vision 2030, which is managing the environment in a manner that balances economic and social development and environmental protection, while also achieving one of the goals of QatarEnergy's Sustainability Strategy, which is to generate more than 4,000 megawatts of renewable energy by 2030. Minister Al-Kaabi said: 'The construction of solar power plants is one of Qatar's most important initiatives to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, to develop sustainability projects, and to diversify electricity generation sources. These plants are expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 4.7 million tons annually. The two plants, along with the Al-Kharsaah plant, will play a significant role in meeting the country's electricity demand, contributing about 15% of the total peak electricity demand. This percentage will rise to 30%, God willing, with the operation of the world-scale 2,000 Megawatt Dukhan solar power plant by 2029.' Al-Kaabi added: 'We have moved beyond relying on the expertise of others for the construction, operation, and maintenance of solar power plants, and have begun implementing such projects using our own national expertise. We are proud of them and their achievements.' Concluding his remarks, Minister Al-Kaabi thanked the project management team, and all participating companies for their efforts towards completing this project.
