The country's busiest airport announced this week a sizable new indoor, natural light-filled forest that will serve as a new, primary concourse of the airport, just as visitors prepare to arrive in Qatar for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The next time your travels pass through Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH), a major international hub, especially for passengers flying on its flagship airline, Oneworld alliance member Qatar Airways, you'll undoubtedly notice the sight.
The airport recently celebrated the completion of The Orchard, a rainforest-like atrium measuring more than 60,000 square feet inside its primary concourse building.
The area is well-lit by sunlight, which highlights the mezzanines, flora, and walkways.
The recently launched area is a component of a much bigger set of development initiatives at Hamad International Airport, which debuted in 2014.
Doha officials have presented hundreds of new shopping and dining options located in the forest-like backdrop in addition to infrastructure improvements like additional gates, upgraded baggage, and enlarged cargo facilities.
A second on-site hotel, the 100-room Oryx Garden Hotel, which will complement the current Oryx Airport Hotel, has also been added to the airport as part of the development.
A planned Al Mourjan Business Lounge will have a view of the grounds at The Orchard.
However, The Orchard, the centerpiece of this development, is viewed as having abundant natural light thanks to the 300 trees and 25,000 plants from all over the world that are housed there under the glass roof, according to airport officials.
The tallest tree is more than 50 feet high.
The indoor show is anchored by a huge water feature.
The Orchard itself can bring to mind a famous airport in a different part of the world.
The Jewel at Singapore Changi Airport (SIN), which debuted in 2019 and includes a sizable glass-enclosed forest and water feature, has been compared by some tourists to The Orchard.
Officials in Doha believe that this development will significantly contribute to the airport's growth, increasing passenger capacity from the current level of about 40 million per year to 58 million per year by the following year.
After the new year, extra gates, concourse space, and airside quick transit will all be built, among other things.
According to airport officials, Hamad's capacity could increase to as many as 70 million passengers in the future.
The number of visitors expected in Qatar over the next month for the FIFA World Cup and the airport's significance as a major hub for people flying to other areas of the globe make these development projects crucial.
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