The terminal costs billions to build and boasts some extraordinary features. Source: Supplied
QATAR garnered the world’s attention when it won the hosting rights to the FIFA world cup in 2022.
The oil rich country has a lot of petrodollars to throw around and many speculated that money played a role in the country’s successful bid to host the event. Either way, it’s clearly not the only thing they’ve been splashing out on, as last year Qatar spent billions to open a new airport in its capital city of Doha.
And let’s just say if the country’s event-hosting is anything like its airport building, it’s going to be a spectacular World Cup.
Here are the five reasons that Qatar could just have the most tricked out airport in the world.
It has a hotel inside the airport
Hamad’s Airport Hotel features 100 rooms and suites starting at a respectable 400 square feet and reaching all the way to the nearly 1,400 square-foot Presidential Suite. The rooms are all contemporary-designed, yet totally comfortable, and can be rented for as little as three hours. There’s also a restaurant, duty-free shop and fitness centre — sure beats a stuffy transit lounge.
An indoor pool at a hotel inside an airport, past security. At Doha's Hamad Int'l Airport. pic.twitter.com/3Vh7288I8I
— Paul Thompson (@FlyingPhotog) January 8, 2015 There are 70 boutique stores
And we’re not talking about NewsLink. Think a grand bazaar of global luxury brands ranging from Harrod’s and Chanel to Armani, Bulgari, Tiffany and Hermès. And since this is the Gulf, you can also shop for gold at the Au Gold Boutique. Best of all, once you’re past immigration, the shopping is totally duty-free.
The internal railway system can take you around the shops and restaurants. Source: Supplied
The business class lounge
Formally known as the Al Mourjan Business Class Lounge, the split-level space sprawls across 30,000 square feet and includes just about everything a jetsetting traveller could want — shower rooms, “quiet rooms” with beds, meeting rooms, two restaurants, a game room ... you get the idea. Need more? How about a kids’ playing room with its own full-size replica of a Formula One racing car? Nice!
Review Al Mourjan Business class Lounge in Doha @qatarairways http://t.co/GnGQ2MPCnb #AlMourjan #qatarairways pic.twitter.com/BHhMMHrFJB
— Kosmo Flyer (@KosmoFlyer) August 29, 2014 There’s some serious art!
And not just any kind of art, but the kind of blue-chip works that deep-pocketed collectors like to buy. But that’s hardly surprising — the Qatari royal family has become one of the world’s leading buyers, collectors and exhibitors of prime artworks. Here, at Hamad, works by both local, Arab and “Western” artists are displayed across its terminals, including the cheeky, over-size Lamp Bear by Swiss artist Urs Fischer along with a “flock” of Arabian Oryx by Dutch artist Tom Claassen. Future works will also soon be displayed by names such as Maurizio Cattelan, Damien Hirst and Jenny Holzer.
Universal Wi-Fi makes business easy to conduct while in transit. Source: Supplied
There’s Wi-Fi everywhere- and it’s free
Just as it should be, well, everywhere — which means more money to spend on food at the airport’s 30 restaurants, from Arabian to Italian to American cuisine.
Three new restaurants opened by @qatardutyfree at Hamad International Airport http://t.co/2paMnmunH0 @HIAQatar pic.twitter.com/bWWRU9WPIE
— Hotelier Middle East (@HotelierME) September 3, 2014 
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét