Following its opening in 2014, Doha’s Hamad International Airport has announced that the next stage of expansion is set to be completed by 2020. This expansion is expected to boost the airport capacity to over 60 million passengers per year. Here are some of the key features in this upcoming expansion:
- A new 9,000 m²/97,000 ft² Qatar Airways Al Mourjan Business Class Lounge that comes with gym and spa facilities, and
- A controversial 10,000 m² / 107,000 ft² indoor tropical garden with a 268 m²/2,900 ft² water feature that will look like this:
Does it ring a bell to you? If not, how about this?
Acknowledging the similarity between Changi Jewel and Hamad’s indoor tropical garden, here is what Qatar Airways and Hamad International Airport CEO, His Excellency Akbar Al Baker, has to say:
“Somebody copied our design, which was already on the table six years ago…. We had individuals from that country, I will not name it, who took that and did it (themselves).”
However, Al Baker also did name one difference between them:
“One is a shopping mall, and one is an international airport.”
New Qatar Airways Al Mourjan Business Class Lounge
Although the existing Qatar Airways Al Mourjan Business Class Lounge is the largest lounge that I have seen thus far, there has been an overcrowding situation during peak periods. Fortunately, they will be introducing another Al Mourjan Business Class Lounge – a standalone lounge rather than an expansion of the existing lounge. This is a welcome move as I personally feel that if the lounge gets too big, it will somewhat loses its exclusivity (feels like a mall instead of a luxurious lounge).
As mentioned earlier, the new lounge will have a gym and spa facilities. Other than that, no other details have been disclosed.
What is your view on the expansion plan? Drop your thoughts in the comment section below.
H/T: Executive Traveller
An additional Al Mourjan Business Class at HIA would be welcome, to help with the overcrowding of the existing lounge (which can be very bad at times).
While the addition of a gym appeals to some, I’d rather the second Al Mourjan Business Class lounge address some issues that the existing Al Mourjan Business Class lounge has.
Firstly, the poor ventilation of the toilet and shower areas. They get quite hot.
Secondly, the amount of toilets and showers is insufficient for the number of people the lounge handles. The long lines to use a toilet at peak periods is pretty bad for a Business Lounge.
Thirdly, improved rest/quiet zones would be beneficial – the current couch/chairs used for these zones aren’t great.
The addition of a spa to the second Al Mourjan Business Class lounge could be interesting, but I would assume the pricing would be similar to the spa in the Al Safwa First lounge (which is on the fairly high side) so its utilisation is unlikely to be particularly high.
What is great about HIA is that the common areas of the airport are of fairly high quality, with facilities a cut above most major airports. The indoor garden will only improve that. That’s a win for both those entitled to use the lounges and those who aren’t.
The Al Mourjan and Al Safwa lounges were designed to be visually appealing, and they deliver on that, and are a cut above any American carrier lounge (but, being honest, not world’s best). With some improvements though on functionality, they could be world leading. Hopefully the second Al Mourjan will deliver on that.
That’s amazing news about the new business class lounge
When will it be actually completed????
Also awesome to hear that it will have a gym & a spa
Plse keep me informed on the opening date
Expected date should be 2020!
Ooombed
First of all change their stupidity attitudes of lazy qataries then it will b fine
Great news
Great idea, Qatar has wonderful vision to make Hamad international airport a paradise, we look forward to see it come true.
Happy to hear HIA is expanding the Facilities. HIA need to become 1st rank in the world. It will happen soon.
I have been waiting for someone to have a lounge with a gym. I hate being on a plane for 8-10 hours and then get off and sit around for a couple of hours. I’d much rather work out take a shower and feel like a human being not a sloth.
Sounds amazing but perhaps they should build more gates instead, so that passengers don’t have to be taken on a 20 minute bus ride to the terminal after landing as I was 2 weeks ago.
When will the new lounge be completed?
Expected date should be 2020!
Very Nice Information Shared by you.