WATCH: Expanded HIA to handle more than 60 million passengers a year

Oct 23, 2019

Hamad International Airport (HIA), consistently ranked among the best airports in the world, is well on its way to becoming bigger and better.

HIA lifted the curtain on its incredible expansion plans to an international audience of real estate investors yesterday at Cityscape Qatar, which is underway at Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC) until October 24.

According to the HIA announcement, the focal point of the expansion project will be a spectacular 10,000 sqm indoor tropical garden in a central concourse coupled with a 268 sqm water feature.

This second phase of HIA's expansion will go into effect in twin phases with the first phase of the current expansion comprising the central concourse linking concourses D and E.

The construction will begin by early 2020 and will pave the way for the airport to accommodate more than 53 million passengers annually by 2022.

Phase B, expected to be completed by 2022, will extend concourses D and E to boost the airport’s capacity to more than 60 million passengers a year.

HIA expansion will also see the construction of a new cargo terminal that will increase capacity handled to an estimated 3.2 million tons per year. The state-of-the-art terminal is slated to be ready by 2023.

Additionally, HIA's expansion plans comprise an 11,720 sqm of landscaped retail and F&B space, which will enhance the multi-dimensional offerings of the five-star airport, as well as a 9,000 sqm of world-class Al Mourjan lounge.

The lounge will be located above the retail space with dramatic views looking toward the tropical garden. It will include additional spas, gymnasiums, restaurants, and business centers in addition to other passenger facilities.

Once the expansion is completed, the terminal building will be the first airport in the MENA region to achieve a 4-star Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) rating, which is the first performance-based system in the MENA region, developed for rating green buildings and infrastructures.

The terminal will also be a LEED Silver certified building with innovative measures of energy efficiency across the entire building.

The flora for the indoor tropical garden will be brought in from sustainable forests from around the world.

In an awe-inspiring plan, designers have developed a column-free, long-span 85-meter grid shell roof with performance glass to control and filter the light required for the trees to acclimatize to the internal conditions of the terminal.

Other significant features include a new transfer area which will help shorten passengers’ connection times and will improve their overall transfer experience at HIA in addition to the central concourse that will accommodate nine additional wide-body aircraft stands.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said the expansion is "also a strong sign that Qatar’s economy is robust and acts as a further economic stimulus, providing excellent opportunities for local and international contractors."

"Plans for phase two expansion focuses on capacity and passenger experience – we want to provide even better airport journeys to more people around the world. The expansion will allow us to do this," he added.

Our ultimate aim at #HIAQatar is to become more than a gateway. We are a destination in our own!
Engr. Badr Al Meer, Chief Operating Officer at #HIAQatar #HIAQatarExpansion pic.twitter.com/dzsOKf2DMb
— Hamad Int'l Airport (@HIAQatar) October 22, 2019