Tourism Breaking News
Qatar Airways Holidays has launched extensive travel packages for the inaugural FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021™ welcoming global football fans to enjoy the finest Qatari hospitality and follow their favourite team in person. The region’s showpiece tournament will take place from 30 November to 18 December, 2021. As Privilege Club is the Official Frequent Flyer Programme of the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021™, members can earn double Qmiles when they purchase a travel package, including a hotel stay of three nights or more by 31 October 2021. New members who join Privilege Club can also enjoy a sign-up bonus of 1,500 Qmiles when using the enrolment code JOINMEPC21.
Fans will be offered the flexibility to build their own package for the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021™ which includes flights with Qatar Airways, the Official Airline Partner of FIFA. The ‘Build Your Own’ feature will give them the functionality to choose their preferred travel dates, hotel accommodation and match tickets. Customers can secure access to bookings by visiting https://www.qatarairwaysholidays.com/qa-en/fifa-arab-cup-2021/overview. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker said: “Not only will this tournament showcase the country’s readiness for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, but it will help us unite football fans from the Middle East and North Africa. With over 140 destinations to choose from, our network will provide them seamless connectivity across the globe. It is time for us to kick off with these unique travel packages and give people a memorable taste of Qatari hospitality, and reignite the region’s collective passion for football.”
The tournament will take place exactly a year before the much-awaited FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ inaugurates and will serve as an opportunity to test operations and facilities ahead of the first FIFA World Cup™ in the Middle East.
The tournament’s draw was conducted after the qualifying round earlier in June 2021, grouping the 16 contesting nations which feature Group A: Qatar, Iraq, Oman and Bahrain; Group B: Tunisia, UAE, Syria and Mauritania; Group C: Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Palestine and Group D: Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon and Sudan.
The event itself will offer travellers a glimpse into the spirit of Qatar and the world-class stadiums set to host the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. The magnificent Al Bayt Stadium located in the northern city of Al Khor is scheduled to contest the tournament’s inaugural and final matches. It is built in the shape of a traditional Bedouin tent as a symbol of hospitality. The other stadiums include Al Thumama Stadium, Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Ras Abu Aboud Stadium, Education City Stadium and Al Janoub Stadium. A detailed schedule of all matches and stadiums can be found online: https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/arabcup/arabcup2021.
The airline sponsored the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup and the UEFA Euro 2020™, and has an extensive global sports partnership portfolio that includes football-governing bodies such as FIFA, CONCACAF and CONMEBOL. As FIFA’s Official Partner, Qatar Airways has sponsored mega events including the 2019 and 2020 editions of the FIFA Club World Cup™, and will sponsor the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. Qatar Airways also sponsors some of the world’s biggest football clubs including Al Sadd SC, Boca Juniors, FC Bayern München, K.A.S. Eupen, and Paris Saint-Germain.
The national carrier of the State of Qatar continues to rebuild its network, which currently stands at over 140 destinations. With more frequencies being added to key hubs, Qatar Airways offers unrivalled connectivity to passengers, making it easy for them to connect to a destination of their choice, seamlessly. A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways was announced as the ‘Airline of the Year’ by the international air transport rating organisation, Skytrax, in addition to securing five additional awards including World’s Best Business Class, World’s Best Business Class Airline Lounge, World’s Best Business Class Airline Seat, World’s Best Business Class Onboard Catering and Best Airline in the Middle East. The airline continues to stand alone at the top of the industry having won the main prize for an unprecedented sixth time (2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021). The airline’s hub, Hamad International Airport (HIA), was also recently recognised as the ‘Best Airport in the World 2021’, ranking at number one in the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2021.
In addition to this, Qatar Airways is the first global airline in the world to achieve the prestigious 5-Star COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating by Skytrax. This follows the success of Hamad International Airport (HIA) as the first airport in the Middle East and Asia to be awarded a Skytrax 5-Star COVID-19 Airport Safety Rating. These awards provide assurance to passengers around the world that the airline’s health and safety standards are subject to the highest possible standards of professional, independent scrutiny and assessment. For full details of all the measures that have been implemented on board and at HIA, please visit qatarairways.com/safety.
