Qatar Updates “Hayya” Features for GCC Residents Visa to Support Tourism Sector During Busy Events Season

News
Published on

Qatar Tourism, in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior and the Permanent Committee for Managing Visitor Entry, has announced updates to the “Hayya” GCC Residents Visa (A2). The new features are designed to make travel to Qatar smoother and more convenient during a season rich in international sporting, cultural, and entertainment events.

Qatar Updates “Hayya” Features for GCC Residents Visa to Support Tourism Sector During Busy Events Season

Qatar Tourism, in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior and the Permanent Committee for Managing Visitor Entry, has announced updates to the “Hayya” GCC Residents Visa (A2). The new features are designed to make travel to Qatar smoother and more convenient during a season rich in international sporting, cultural, and entertainment events.

The updates, which will take effect on 30 November 2025, allows visitors from GCC countries to stay in Qatar for up to two months and offers multiple-entry access. These enhancements are designed to make it easier for visitors to attend a variety of events throughout the season and enjoy a seamless entry experience across all points of arrival.

These updates come at a key moment as Qatar prepares to welcome regional visitors for the 2025 FIFA Arab Cup alongside a packed events calendar. The new visa features allow GCC residents to move in and out of the country with ease, enabling fans to attend matches and enjoy Qatar’s broader cultural and entertainment offerings. Through the Hayya Platform, Qatar continues to ensure a smooth arrival experience and strong operational readiness for the tournament and other major events during peak periods.

Commenting on the new updates, Mr. Saeed Al Kuwari, Director of Hayya, said: “These measures go beyond simple procedural changes. They reflect Qatar Tourism’s broader vision to strengthen the country’s openness to the region, facilitate visitor movement during major sports and cultural events, increase arrivals, and enhance tourism’s contribution to the national economy. They also reinforce Qatar’s position as a leading regional destination for tourism and international events.”

Hayya offers five distinct visa categories: the Tourist Visa (A1), GCC Resident Visa (A2), Visa with ETA (A3), Companion of GCC Citizen Visa (A4), and the Visa-Free for US Citizens (F1). By making entry seamless for GCC residents, Qatar Tourism is enabling more visitors from neighbouring countries to enjoy the season’s events, strengthening Qatar’s global tourism profile, and supporting economic growth.

Operated by Qatar Tourism, Hayya serves as Qatar’s official e-visa digital platform. As Qatar’s central digital gateway, Hayya streamlines access to the country through integrated visa processing and event access, all within a single, user-friendly interface.

The platform is designed to facilitate e-visa services while integrating events, domestic tourism, transport, lifestyle experiences, and everyday services into one unified solution for living, traveling, and connecting.

Beyond enabling smooth entry via airports and land borders, it encourages visitors to explore Qatar’s cultural landmarks, natural attractions, and vibrant year-round events. The platform also supports major events by delivering tailored digital solutions for organisers, delegates, and attendees.

The “Hayya” Contact Center offers round-the-clock support in Arabic, English, Tagalog, Urdu, and Hindi. Applicants can reach the center via email, or by calling 2022 from within Qatar or +974 4441 2022 from abroad.

-Ends-

Biography of Mr. Saeed Al-Kuwari - Director of Hayya

Mr. Saeed Al-Kuwari is the Director of Hayya, operating under Qatar Tourism.

Before assuming his current role, Mr. Al-Kuwari held several senior positions at the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), where he played a key role in the successful delivery of the FIFA World Cup 2022TM.

As Director of Hayya Program Operations, he led the platform’s transformation into a central component of the tournament experience, enabling entry for millions of fans and providing integrated transport services, accommodation, and customer services solution, while supervising over 43 service centers and managing over 1000 employees.

Prior to joining the Supreme Committee, Mr. Al-Kuwari served at the Ministry of Interior, progressing from 2nd Lieutenant to Major. His experience was rooted in business IT rather than technical IIT, and his tenure saw significant advancements in security systems and identity management, including the development of biometric data systems, facial recognition technology, and Qatar’s e-gate infrastructure.

Mr. Al-Kuwari holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Colorado and an Executive MBA from the University of Plymouth. He is also a member of the Hayya Permanent Committee.

Statement by Mr. Saeed Al-Kuwari - Director of the Haya Platform

(During the press conference announcing the new entry facilities via the Haya platform)

In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,

Ladies and gentlemen, representatives of the media,

Our esteemed partners in the Local Organizing Committee of the Arab Cup,

Distinguished guests,

I am delighted to meet with you today at this press conference, which embodies the strong partnership between Qatar Tourism and the Local Organizing Committee of the Arab Cup, and represents a continuation of the State of Qatar's journey in hosting major international sporting events.

Today, we continue to build upon this legacy through practical solutions that enhance accessibility to Qatar and encourage visitors to choose it as their preferred destination for major events and tournaments.

The Haya platform, which now operates under the umbrella of Qatar Tourism and is the official digital gateway for electronic entry visas to the country, has proven its pivotal role in facilitating access to the State of Qatar, processing millions of applications with high efficiency and reliability, and supporting an integrated tourism experience that connects visas, events, and transportation services in our beloved State of Qatar.

Building on these successes, we are pleased to announce today, in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior and the Permanent Committee for Visitor Entry Management to the State of Qatar, a new package of facilitations for GCC residents' A2 visas through the "Haya" platform, especially with the upcoming 2025 Arab Cup. These new facilitations, effective November 30, 2025, include:

- First: Extending the validity of the entry visa for GCC residents from one month to two months.

- Second: Converting it to a multiple-entry visa, granting visitors greater flexibility in traveling to and from Qatar.

 

Distinguished Guests

These facilitations are not merely procedural changes, but rather part of a comprehensive vision for Qatar's tourism sector. This vision aims to enhance the country's openness to its surrounding region, facilitate visitor movement during major sporting and cultural events, thereby contributing to increased visitor numbers, boosting tourism's contribution to the national economy, and solidifying Qatar's position as a leading regional destination for tourism and international events.

The development of the "Haya" system is a prime example of the integration between our tourism strategy and the country's digital transformation. Through a unified platform,

visitors enjoy a seamless experience, starting with the online visa application, connecting it to events and services, and facilitating entry procedures at various ports of entry, all while adhering to the highest standards of security and service quality. The "Haya" system also continues to support the 2025 Arab Cup by facilitating the attraction of visitors and fans from citizens and residents of the GCC countries.

I would also like to emphasize the crucial role of the Haya Contact Center in providing round-the-clock support and guidance to visitors in five languages, ensuring they receive accurate information and the necessary services at every stage of their journey to Qatar. The Contact Center offers continuous support 24/7 in five languages: English, Arabic, Hindi, Urdu, and Tagalog.

In conclusion, I would like to thank our dear brothers in the Local Organizing Committee for the Arab Cup and the Ministry of Interior for this fruitful cooperation, and all the national entities working with us to provide an exceptional experience for Qatar's guests.

We invite our brothers residing in the GCC countries to take advantage of the new facilities and enjoy a unique experience in Qatar during the upcoming tournaments and events.

Thank you, and peace, mercy, and blessings be upon you.

Press Conference Announcing New Entry Facilitations via the Haya Platform

Questions and Answers about the GCC Residents' Visit Visa (A2)

1. If an A2 visa application is approved and the visitor is in Qatar before the changes take effect on 30/11/2025, what happens?

  • The visa validity remains 30 days.
  • An extension of the visa validity can always be requested by visiting the Immigration Department at Hamad International Airport (HIA).
  • The visa is valid for a single entry only. If the visitor leaves the country, they must submit a new A2 visa application upon their return.

2. If an A2 visa application is approved and the visitor does not leave Qatar before the changes take effect on 30/11/2025, what happens after their arrival?

  • The visa validity remains 30 days.
  • An extension of the visa can be requested after arrival in Qatar by visiting the Immigration Department at Hamad International Airport.
  • The visa remains valid for single entry only. If the visitor leaves the country, a new A2 visa application must be submitted upon their return.

3. What happens if A2 visa applications are pending or being processed before the changes take effect on 30/11/2025?

  • Once the application is approved, the same scenarios apply.
  • Once the application is approved, the existing application can be canceled, and a new application can be submitted from scratch to be eligible for a 60-day multiple-entry visa.

4. What happens if an A2 visa application submitted before the changes take effect on 30/11/2025 is rejected, updated, and resubmitted?

  • Once the application is approved, the same scenarios apply.
  • Once the application is approved, the existing application can be canceled, and a new application can be submitted from scratch to be eligible for a 60-day multiple-entry visa.

5. Can citizens or residents of all Arab countries benefit from these updated visa features?

  • Once the updated A2 visa is specifically for residents of GCC countries, regardless of nationality. Any resident with a valid residency permit in a GCC country can apply, provided they meet the visa requirements.

6. Do these updates also apply to GCC citizens?

  • GCC citizens do not require a visa to enter Qatar. The updated features apply to GCC residents, meaning individuals of any nationality legally residing in a member state.

7. Why are these updates limited to GCC residents and not applicable to visitors from other regions?

  • The A2 visa is designed to enhance regional connectivity and facilitate travel between GCC countries. Qatar continues to offer a wide range of visa options for international visitors through the Hayya platform, and updates to other categories are periodically evaluated based on demand, travel trends, and operational readiness.

8. Are these updates related to the 2025 Arab Cup?

  • While these updates support visitors coming to attend the 2025 Arab Cup, they are part of a broader effort to improve entry procedures during a busy season of sporting, cultural, and entertainment events. 9. Will these new features continue after the events season ends?
  • The updated features have been introduced for the current period, and Qatar Tourism will continue to evaluate the features program to ensure it meets visitor needs and achieves national tourism goals.

-Ends-

© 2025 Qatar Tourism | All rights reserved 

Qatar Updates “Hayya” Features for GCC Residents Visa to Support Tourism Sector During Busy Events Season