Qatar Says It Is Ready for Visitors Again
Qatar’s tourism sector says it is ready to welcome visitors again after recent regional tensions disrupted airspace and travel plans. Visit Qatar CEO Abdulaziz Ali Al-Mawlawi told Euronews the country had faced one of its hardest periods in recent history, while working with embassies, airlines and tourism partners to help stranded visitors and restore confidence.
More than 12,000 international visitors were in Qatar during the early stages of the regional conflict, including around 8,000 transit passengers. At Doha’s cruise port, about 5,000 passengers and crew were also affected after the Strait of Hormuz was closed. Celestyal Journey and Mein Schiff 5 later departed the Arabian Gulf safely in mid-April.
What Qatar Did
Authorities launched a 24-hour hotline, WhatsApp updates and social media alerts while coordinating departures through Hamad International Airport. Qatar Tourism also supported visitors during the disruption with:
- 194 hotels used for accommodation
- Hotel rooms and meals covered for 15 days
- Around 8,000 emergency visas issued
- Visa extensions and overstay flexibility
Qatar is now moving from crisis response to tourism recovery. Visit Qatar’s Hala Summer campaign runs until September, with hotel packages, family offers and concerts, including John Legend in Doha on 10 September. Later in 2026, the calendar includes Hans Zimmer, Shakira, the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Grand Prix and the Doha Jewellery & Watches Exhibition.
The recovery push matters because Qatar is trying to move past disruption without pretending it did not happen. Support for stranded visitors may help rebuild trust, while Qatar Airways is also expanding its network to more than 160 destinations. With Caracas, Bogotá and Helsinki being added or restored, Doha is again being positioned as both a stopover hub and a destination.
