The Al Dosari Zoo and Game Reserve is one of the oldest such facilities in the country.

The privately held enterprise is eyeing a major expansion spree ahead of the start of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The zoo authorities are looking to add a new building which will house a new exhibition centre, VIP area and other facilities, reported The Peninsula.

“We plan to expand the zoo for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. We’re planning to have a new building with an area of around 10,000SqM. It’ll have a new exhibition centre,  VIP area, an education centre, labour camps and other facilities,” Al Dosari Zoo’s owner and Director Mohamed Mater Al Dosari was quoted as saying by The Peninsula. 

The park, which currently receives around 170,000 visitors a year, is expected to cater to more than double that number once the expansion is complete.

“On Fridays and holidays, the park receives more than 3,000 visitors. This number will increase manifold during the period of the World Cup. So, we’ve several plans for the tournament. Our idea is to make the park an ideal combination of entertainment, heritage and education,” Al Dosari told Qatar Tribune.

Work on the new buildings is expected to start soon and will be completed well ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Al Dosari said special arrangements had already been made with Mowasalat to provide frequent, reliable bus service from different parts of Doha to the park.

The three-decade-old Al Dosari Zoo and Game Reserve is hugely popular in Qatar, and the expansion will address the need of creating more space for a growing number of visitors. 

The zoo has an animal safari park, a zoo, an amusement park, exhibition centre heritage and maritime museums, theatre area and a small market. 

There’s a nominal entry fee of QR10 per person.

Plans are also afoot to improve parking for vehicles.

“We’ve four parking, and all these remain full. We plan to make a new parking space and a road on the backside of the park,” he added.