As the host country for the 2022 Fifa World Cup, Qatar is closing its borders from November 1 to December 23, report Qatari press.
All land, sea and air borders will be shut to anyone not holding the Hayya Card – the fan ID issued by the government to anyone attending matches during the World Cup.
Hayya cardholders can enter the country from November 1 until December 23, said Brigadier Abdullah Khalifa Al Muftah, Director of Public Relations Department and Head of the Media Unit, World Cup Safety and Security Committee. Once they’ve entered, they can stay in the country until January 23, 2023.
The card is the only means for foreign visitors to enter the country during the build-up, duration and wind-down after the World Cup, which runs from November 20 to December 18. Cardholders are also permitted to bring up to three non-ticketed fans with them, who can then be linked to their cards.
The closure will not affect Qatari citizens and residents, GCC citizens holding a Qatari ID card, or anyone with a personal or work visa.
Fifa has already sold 2,45 million of the three million tickets available for the event. Although borders will be closed to non-soccer fans, hundreds of thousands of visitors are expected in nearby cities such as Dubai, which is building fan zones to accommodate them.
