How To Enter Qatar By Road During World Cup (Land Border)

NOTE: This article is about the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ and has not been updated after December 2022.

The State of Qatar will host the biggest sports event of the year, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, from 20 November to 18 December 2022. At least a million international fans will arrive in Qatar during the event, including thousands from nearby GCC countries.

The Abu Samra Crossing, which is Qatar’s land border with Saudi Arabia, will start receiving fans from 1 November 2022. This article will discuss the procedure to enter Qatar by road during the World Cup.

Recent Update

6 DECEMBER 2022

GCC citizens and residents can enter Qatar without Hayya Card: Ministry

Qatar’s Ministry of Interior has announced that GCC citizens and residents can now enter Qatar without a Hayya Card. Earlier entry was limited to Qatari citizens, residents and visitors with Hayya Cards.

  • The land border crossing will continue to offer transportation by bus to all travellers.
  • Visitors will have access to free parking spaces.
  • Citizens and residents of GCC countries will be able to enter the country with their private vehicles from 8 December 2022.

Before travelling, they must apply for a permit on the website of the Ministry of Interior at least 12 hours in advance. The entry permit will be free.

You can find more details here


Entry Through Qatar Land Border

The Abu Samra border crossing is the land port between the State of Qatar and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, located about 110 kilometres from the capital Doha. 

Authorities have announced the procedures for entry into Qatar through the Abu Samra border crossing during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. 

The ministry has allocated a tent that can receive 4,000 people per hour and increased the passport counters at the checkpoint to serve fans, citizens, residents, and others.

Free transportation will be provided from the border to Al Messila in central Doha and the Family and Friends Meet and Greet Area in Al Qalayel, 2 km from the border. 

Fans can also contact their friends or family members to take them to their accommodation inside the country, or they can move by private taxi from therein. 

Requirements To Enter Qatar By Road

From 1 November to 23 December 2022, visitors must have an approved Hayya Card to enter the State of Qatar (by land, air or sea). International Hayya Card holders will receive their Hayya Entry Permits to Qatar. During the tournament, the Hayya Card will provide stadium access (along with a match ticket), and a key to free public transport.

Here is our guide on how to apply for Hayya Card.

Visitors must also meet all immigration, customs and entry requirements, such as a passport, which is valid until at least 22 March 2023.

Citizens, residents, and GCC citizens with a Qatari ID card and a car with Qatari plates can enter the country as usual without a Hayya card. Day visitors entering will not be able to access the country using private cars unless they have a Qatar-registered vehicle.

How To Enter Qatar By Road
Abu Samra Border Crossing

How To Enter Qatar By Road During World Cup

From 1 November to 23 December, there will be three options to enter Qatar by road:

Option 1: Reach Qatar Border By Bus

Under this option, you will book a bus service in Saudi Arabia to drop you at the terminal. Here are the steps to follow:

  • Step 1: Your bus operator will drop you at the border terminal.
  • Step 2: Complete the customs requirements and entry procedures at the border terminal.
  • Step 3 (Option A): Take the free bus from the terminal to Al Messila Metro Station (Green Line) in Doha (OR)
  • Step 3 (Option B): If someone is meeting you, you can take the free shuttle bus to the Al Qalayel family and friends pick-up area, which is 2km from the Abu Samra land border terminal.

Return Journey: You can catch a shuttle bus back to the land border from Al Messila Metro Station or the Al Qalayel family and friends pick-up area.


Option 2: Park Your Vehicle At Border (Match Day Visit)

Under this option, you can visit Qatar and park your car at the designated car park.

  • Step 1: Park your vehicle at the border (EDIT: As of 6 December 2022, border parking is free).
  • Step 2: A free shuttle bus will take you from the car park waiting area to the border terminal.
  • Step 3: Complete the customs requirements and entry procedures at the border terminal.
  • Step 4 (Option A): Take the free bus from the terminal to Al Messila Metro Station (Green Line) in Doha (OR)
  • Step 5 (Option B): If someone is meeting you, you can take the free shuttle bus to the Al Qalayel family and friends pick-up area, which is 2km from the Abu Samra land border terminal.

Return Journey: You can catch a shuttle bus back to the land border from Al Messila Metro Station or the Al Qalayel family and friends pick-up area.

Option 3: Use your own vehicle to enter Doha

You can enter Doha using a private vehicle by registering for a vehicle entry permit at least 12 hours before travel. (From 8th December 2022, the procedure to enter using a private vehicle has been updated).


Enhanced Capacity At Abu Samra Border

As part of what has been implemented to serve the World Cup, a passenger hall has been constructed covering 10,000 square metres and has the capacity to serve 2,000 visitors per hour for arrivals and 2,000 visitors per hour for departures.

Also, 44 passports and 22 customs inspection platforms will serve the fans coming to Qatar and provide them with comfort and safety.

Temporary parking lots were also established to raise the capacity of the tournament fans’ parking spaces from 1,400 to 4,500, with the installation of a parking reservation system. 

The project includes 48 tourist tracks to serve 12,000 cars entering and leaving Qatar, in addition to road development works with a length of 4.5 km. 

Here is a video of Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, inspecting the progress of the Abu Samra border crossing’s expansion and development project in order to ensure readiness to welcome fans attending the World Cup.

In humanitarian cases, entry will be limited through airports only. An application for entry shall be submitted on the MOI website, which will be reviewed and replied to within six hours.

Commercial vehicles looking to enter Qatar by road will be restricted during the tournament between 11 pm and 6 am to prioritise fan traffic. This will be in place from November 15 until December 22.

READ: Doha Road Closures and Traffic Updates During World Cup

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