Doha, October 30 (QNA) The organizers of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 announced that the Doha Corniche area, and a number of surrounding roads, will be designated for pedestrians from Tuesday, the first of November, until December 19, 2022, in preparation for hosting a variety of recreational activities for the fans of the tournament. The competition will take place from the 20th of November to the 18th of December.

This step is part of the plans to host the tournament and manage and organize transportation during the upcoming event, to ensure a smooth experience for fans from all over the world, to attend the World Cup, which is being held for the first time in the Arab world.

The World Cup organizers confirmed in an official statement today that the public will be able to reach downtown Doha using public transportation, including the Doha Metro and buses.

There are also four parking spaces designated for people with disabilities in the downtown area of Doha, within the hotel garden parking lot, Qatar Post, parking number (5) in Al Bidda Park, and the parking lots of Doha Port. Parkings for the public from the first of November until the nineteenth of next December, which are Souq Waqif West and North, Al Shuyukh Mosque, Al Bida (5) (via Al Rayyan Street), Al Bida’ (4 and 5) (through the Corniche Street), and Al Bidaa (1 and 2) (Across Istiklal Street).

Work will be suspended in a number of car parks on the roads, in the areas of West Bay, Al-Bidaa and the First Ring Road, and motorists must not park except in the permitted places, to avoid violations that will be imposed on illegally parked cars, or that obstruct pedestrian corridors, and stations buses.

The statement added that motorists can use the following (park and move) facilities: Qatar University Metro Station on the Red Line, which has free parking for 6,000 cars, as well as for vehicles coming from the Katara Cultural Village car park, and Al Messila Station on the Green Line, which includes parking Free parking for 5,000 cars, as well as for guest cars at The Ned Hotel, Umm Ghuwailina Station on the Red Line, which has free parking for 3,000 cars, in addition to parking for guests’ cars on Banana Island and owners of marine transport vehicles, Julai’a car park, and express buses. Free parking for 2,000 cars.

 

He explained that from November 14 to December 18, a bus will run every 15 minutes from 9 am to 5 pm, and there will be a bus every 7.5 minutes, from 5 pm to 3 am.

A drop-off and pick-up area for private vehicles will be allocated at the Imam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab Mosque parking lot (Istiklal Street), a 15-minute walk from the FIFA Fan Festival, and a 20-minute walk from the Doha Corniche.

The statement added that passengers will not be allowed to unload and carry passengers on the roads surrounding the FIFA Fan Festival, and fines will be imposed on violating drivers, in order to maintain the safety of passengers and road users.

Regarding transportation by metro, the statement stressed that the public can reach downtown Doha through the following metro stations located in the Corniche area, which is the Exhibition Center station on the Red Line, where it is possible to reach hotels located in the West Bay area, the Corniche events area in the north, and shopping centers. West Bay Bus Station (fast transfer buses to the stadiums), West Bay Station, on the Red Line, from which one can access the FIFA Fan Festival and the North Corniche events area, and the Corniche Station (exit only) on the Red Line, from which one can access the FIFA Festival For fans and the Corniche central event area.

As for the fourth metro station, it is Al Bida Station on the Red and Green Lines, from which one can reach the FIFA Fan Festival, the Corniche Central Event Area, and Al Bida Park, as well as the Msheireb Station on the Red and Green Lines, from which one can reach the Corniche Central Event Area, the Msheireb Center, and Souq Waqif Station. On the Golden Line, you can reach the Corniche South event area, the Museum of Islamic Art, restaurants and shops in Souq Waqif, Souq Waqif North Bus Station (Stadium Rapid Transit Buses), and Souq Waqif South Bus Station (Floating Hotels and Hamad International Airport).

The Doha Metro will operate for longer periods from November 11 to December 20, to facilitate the movement of fans during the World Cup, and “Haya” card holders can use the metro for free, from Saturday to Thursday from 6 am to 3 am, and on Fridays from 9 am Until 3 am.

The areas designated for picking up and dropping off taxi passengers and smart application cars are located in central locations, including Ashghal Tower, Qatar Sports Club (for the Viva Fan Festival), Al Bida Metro Station, Souq Waqif, and the Museum of Islamic Art Park. Smart application cars will operate in Karwa, Karwa - Fox, Uber and Careem are on these sites.

The free express bus service dedicated to transporting the tournament fans will operate from the first of November until the 18th of December.

The Corniche bus service "No. C806" operates during the peak period every (7.5 minutes) from 5 pm to 3 am, and every (15 minutes) outside the peak period from 9 am to 5 pm, and the second ring road buses "No. C804". Every (7.5 minutes) during the peak period from 5 pm to 3 am, and every (15 minutes) off-peak hours from 9 am to 5 pm, and C-Ring Road buses “No. C805” every (7.5 minutes) in the peak period from 5 pm to 5 pm 3 a.m., and every 15 minutes outside peak hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and floating hotel buses "No. A821" during the peak period every (7.5 minutes) from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., and from 10 p.m. to 3 In the morning, and every 15 minutes outside peak hours from 11 am to 4 pm and from 7 pm to 10 pm, and until the next morning from 3 am to 8 am.

Vehicles with public and private (black) transport plates will be prohibited from driving in the central Doha area, from 12 noon to 2 am from November 1 to December 19.

The statement added that bus services from Hamad International Airport and Umm Ghuwailina area will be available to transport visitors to Souq Waqif North stops, and from there to Banana Island Station.

The use of motorcycles, bicycles and scooters will be banned in the Corniche area, pedestrian areas, and public parks from November 1 to December 19.

Parking will also not be available at Souq Waqif, Al Shuyukh Mosque, and Al Bidaa (via Al Rayyan Street and Al Bidda via Istiklal Street, and Qatar Post), from November 1 to December 19.