The impact and legacy of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 still resonate to this day in the host nation, the Arab region and, indeed, the rest of the world. Even before the tournament, several legacy projects like Generation Amazing, youth initiatives, massive infrastructure development and, most importantly, introducing Qatar, Middle Eastern and Arab culture to the rest of the world. FIFA recently announced five billion people engaged with the tournament across all platforms.
Ahead of the tournament, organisers, including the Ministry of Interior, announced that the Hayya card would be the medium of entry into the country for the world cup. Ticket holders and fans were encouraged to register for the card, which was initially supposed to grant them access into the country until December 23, 2022, and stay up until January 23, 2023.
Yesterday, the MoI, in a welcome announcement for fans and tourists, announced the extension of the Hayya card yesterday.
In a statement, the Ministry indicated that Hayya Card holders could enter Qatar from yesterday, January 30, 2023, until January 24, 2024. Interested Hayya card holders have to follow specific regulations, including proof of confirmed hotel booking or proof of accommodation with family or friends issued through the Hayya platform, passport validity of not less than three months upon arrival to Qatar, obtaining health insurance during the period of stay in the country, and a round ticket.
All Hayya cardholders will have access to the ‘Hayya with Me’ feature, which allows them to invite up to three family members or friends, a multiple-entry permit to the country, and the use of the e-Gate system for entry and exit via state ports, while no fees are required.
The Ministry added that these conditions apply to holders of all Hayya Card types used during the World Cup.
More than 1.4 million fans from across the globe have visited Qatar for the FIFA World Cup 2022. The total attendance figure for all matches combined was 3.4m people. The average attendance was above 53,000 per match, more than 96 per cent of the total capacity. According to authorities, Qatar has estimated to make $17 billion in revenue after hosting the World Cup. The aviation and hospitality sectors are among the biggest beneficiaries of Qatar hosting the prominent sporting event.
An estimated 40 million people are expected to visit the country in the future due to the World Cup’s impact.
