Oman has affirmed that it supports Qatar's efforts to host the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 through a number of areas of cooperation
With the world’s most watched sports tournament, the FIFA World Cup headed to Qatar next month, members of the entire Gulf Cooperation Council community seem to be lining up to help Qatar in ensuring a smooth organisation of the tournament.
Many of the GCC countries say that they will facilitate travel from Qatar to their country, even on a daily basis, so that the fans can watch the matches in Doha but stay in their country.
Oman is one such nation. According to Azzan Qasim Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism for Tourism and Head of the Steering Committee for the management of the programme, Oman has affirmed that it supports Qatar’s efforts to host the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 through a number of areas of cooperation.
Al Busaidi outlined the key features of the programme, which include a World Cup fan visa for entry into the Sultanate of Oman, exclusively for holders of a Hayya card which is mandatory for access to the matches, daily flights between Muscat and Doha, a programme for airport and transportation facilities, hotels and vacation packages, a programme of events and activities and accompanying promotional campaigns.
According to Lt Col Ahmed Said Al Ghafri, Director of Administrative and Financial Affairs at the Royal Oman Police’s (ROP) Directorate General of Passports and Civil Status, one of the “Hayya card holders” unique benefits is a free multi-entry visa that can be obtained upon arrival and has a validity of up to 60 days. Al Ghafri added that the holder of the visa is also permitted to switch the category of their visa while they are in Oman and bring first-degree relatives along for the trip, though under certain conditions.
Oman Air‘s CEO Abdulaziz Saud Al Raisi says that more than 120 booking locations around the world offer ticket packages that include lodging and discounted fares. Khalid Abdulwahab Al Balushi, Senior Manager of Government Affairs at Oman Air, says that during the World Cup matches, which will take place from Nov 20 to Dec 3, 2022, one-day flight prices start at RO 99 for economy class and RO 305 for business class. He continued by saying that special fares have been made available for citizens to encourage them, starting at RO 49 for economy class and RO 155 for business class.
Shabib Mohammed Al Ma’amari, MD of the National Travel Operator and Omran Group representative, highlighted the fact that more than 200 tourism products, including more than 20,000 hotel rooms, are offered through 35 local operators and 10 land transport companies as part of the programme. 52 international airlines that fly to Oman have partnerships with these businesses.
To ensure a smooth flow of fans at the airport, Saud Nasser Al Hubaishi, acting Chief of Operations, emphasised Muscat International Airport’s preparedness strategy. In addition to outlets dedicated to verifying fans, identification devices for customs inspection, special routes for inbound and outbound flights through gates designated for aircrafts carrying fans of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Additionally, Said Al Kuwari, Executive Director of the Hayya platform in Qatar, gave a presentation on the official platform in charge of administering the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 tickets and the amenities it offers to the fans in accordance with planned and simple mechanisms for everyone.
The programme offers accommodation services and travel-related activities in the form of lodging offers, travel-related services, experiences, and excursions. SMEs and tourism management firms will provide these services.
