Planning to Visit Qatar to Catch a World Cup Match? Here’s Why You’re Better Off Staying in Dubai
World Cup is underway in Qatar, delighting fans with surprises at almost every match. So far, we’ve had Saudi Arabia’s historic win, Japan’s surprise win against Germany, and certainly many more to come.
Excitement abounds, but how easy is it to travel to Qatar for the hottest sporting event of the year? If you’re thinking of catching a match there, consider making Dubai your basecamp instead of staying in Qatar.
Why base your World Cup trip in Dubai?
Dubai excels as a basecamp choice as it offers advantages in terms of an abundance of accommodation options as well as its close proximity to Doha. It also helps that Dubai has a reputation of being a premier tourist destination filled with world-class attractions.
Dubai stands out as the prime candidate among other possible alternatives. Furthermore, you can easily snag cheap flights from anywhere, as Dubai is a busy hub servicing many airlines, from budget to five-star ones.
How to get to Doha from Dubai
Fans staying in Dubai can easily fly to Doha on matchdays, which will take about 1.5 hours. Please note that to be able to fly to Qatar and be allowed entry into the stadium, you need to make sure you have both your match tickets and Hayya Card.
Shuttle flights are our recommendation for your Qatar trip from Dubai. Airlines in the region have aligned themselves to provide fans with plenty of options to attend matches in Doha from Dubai as well as other cities in the region. These shuttle flights will allow fans to reach Doha and return to Dubai on the same day. You can book these shuttle flights by visiting the airlines’ respective websites.
Another option for your flight to Qatar is by chartering private flights from Dubai. While it may seem quite pricey at first, if you’re travelling in a group chartering a private flight can be both cost-effective and convenient since you have more control of your flight.
Some of the advantages of chartered flights are the freedom to determine where you fly from and when. You’ll also be able to reduce the chances of COVID infection since you’ll be travelling with your close circle of friends/family.
Where to stay in Dubai
If you’re planning on staying in a budget hotel, Dubai has a lineup of cheap and affordable hotels situated at decent locations with easy access to town and the airport thanks to the city’s excellent public transportation system.
At the other end of the spectrum, high-end hotels featuring impeccable services are situated in prime locations ready to accommodate guests visiting for the World Cup. These high-end hotels have also been reported to step up their game by providing shuttle services to the airport for football fans looking to fly on matchdays.
What to see and do in Dubai
Dubai’s reputation of being a city devoted to leisure is well founded. In between matchdays, there are loads of things you can see and do in Dubai to keep you and your travel mates occupied.
Head over to Kite Beach where you can partake in water skiing and kayaking. Kite Beach is also a hotbed for other beachside activities such as beach volleyball and jogging. If you’re aiming for a relaxing stroll along the beach, we recommend visiting JBR Beach and the Walk.
Up for some shopping? World-famous malls such as the Dubai Mall, Ibn Battuta Mall, Dubai Marina Wall, and numerous others will allow you to fully explore all the famous international brands being offered by the myriad of available stores.
If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, Dubai has some of the widest collections of ‘extreme’ activities in the region. You can choose to partake in skydiving from an altitude of 13,000 feet at either the Palm or the Desert dropzone. You can also visit the desert and take control of a 4×4 SUV and power your way across the desert navigating towering sand dunes.
