Corniche to host an array of activities during FIFA Arab Cup

Doha Corniche Street will see a lot of interesting activities for visiting fans and residents during FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021. 

The street will be closed for traffic during the event from November 26 until December 4, 2021 allowing only public transport. The pedestrians will be allowed to use Corniche Street.

Necessary arrangement are being put in place for smooth movement of fans. Organisers are also planning various shows on the Corniche Street including Qatar International Food Festival, eight interactive installations, one musical water show and largest ever monumental LED installation in Qatar.

Alternative transport options will be provided by Doha Metro Service and Karwa buses to carry passengers to their destinations during closure period. Seven out of 37 of Doha Metro stations will serve Corniche Street and over 40 bus stops will be served by public transit buses.

The details of Doha Corniche closure and transportation plans were announced in a press conference by FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021 Local Organising Committee (LOC) yesterday attended by representatives from Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC), Ministry of Interior, Public Works Authority (Ashghal), Qatar Tourism, Mowasalat (Karwa) and Qatar Rail.

Mobility Operation Director at Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC), Abdulaziz Ali Al Mawlawi said that SC is taking necessary measures with its partners to reduce the impact of closure on road users.

Head of Technical Team at Ministry of Interior, First Lieutenant, Khalid Nasser Al Mulla said that Corniche Street will be closed from November 26 in the morning until December 4. He said that the closure will be from Al Sharq intersection to Sheraton Hotel in north and from Sheraton to Port Intersection in south. Part of some roads leading to Corniche Street will also be closed, he added.

 “The General Directorate of Traffic at the Ministry of Interior will issue permit to the entities affected by the closure directly as there is no alternative road except Corniche Street,” said First Lieutenant, Khalid Nasser Al Mulla.

He said that transit permit will be issued to restaurants, cafeteria and commercial outlets operating on Doha Corniche Street if there is no alternative road to transit the street during certain time. 

“The said outlets are required to provide the list of booking by customers attached with number plates of their vehicles. Pedestrians will be allowed to use Corniche Street.”

To obtain a transit permit, he said the applicant required to submit an application attached with necessary documents Estimara of vehicle (road permit), ID card, driving license, number plate of vehicle, type of vehicle and ID number of driver, to the General Directorate of Traffic at the Ministry of Interior.

“The entry of trucks will be prohibited at Doha Corniche Street during closure period from 6am to 8:30am; 12noon to 3pm and 5pm to 10pm,” said Al Mulla.
He said public transit buses and school buses are exempted from prohibited timing. However, he said, trucks are not allowed to enter the streets around the stadiums of FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021 except from 1am to 5am.

Design Engineer at Public Works Authority (Ashghal), Mohamed Ali Al Marri, said that development works were carried out on several intersections to reduce traffic congestion during the closure of Corniche Street and facilitate the movement of new bus services.

He said geo-location applications will be provided for live information for transit during the Corniche closure period and new signboards for pedestrians have been installed. “Over 125 signboards and 50 banners are installed to educate people about the closure of Corniche Street,” said Al Marri.

Head of Events and Festival Technical Support Section, Qatar Tourism, Hamad Al Khaja said Food Festival will be held from November 26 to December 4 at Corniche Street and from November 26 to December 17 at Al Beda Park for citizens, expatriates and visitors from GCC and other countries.

He said that the food festival will open from 3pm to 11pm and during weekend from 3pm to 1am.

“The festival includes hot air balloon, fireworks, 12 food trucks, 145 food kiosk, different types of sitting places, decoration and other colorful activities,” said Al Khaja.

Media and Government Relations Manager at Mowasalat (Karwa), Khalid Kafoud, said public transit bus service at Doha Corniche will begin from November 26 to December 4.

He said that a bus will move after each 15 minutes. “The operation will cover in North Area Souq Waqif, Al Bida Park, General Post Office (GPO), Sheraton Park, DECC and City Center and in South Area Sheraton Park, GPO, Al Beda Park, Al Shuyukh Port, Al Bandar, Al Meean (Port) Street,” said Kafoud. He said that Karwa bus service will also cover 16 bus stops at B-Ring Road and 19 bus stops at C-Ring Road during the closure.

Chief of Strategies and Business Development at Qatar Rail, Ajlan Eid Al Enazi, said that Doha Metro will play a key role in facilitating the movement of passengers during the temporary closure of the Corniche Street.

He said Doha Metro network, with its 37 stations, will cover most of the main destinations in Doha, especially the Corniche area, where there are seven stations, including the National Museum station, Souq Waqif, Corniche, Al Bidda, West Bay, and DECC.

Al Enazi said that people can also go to Qatar International Food Festival, which will be held in Al Bidda Park in conjunction with the Arab Cup through Al Bidda station.

As for the accompanying services, he said, the Metrolink service will continue to operate through 21 stations during the mentioned closure period, and some of its routes will be temporarily diverted to alternative routes during the closure period, and the Metro Express service will operate through six stations as usual.

“The public can also take advantage of the park and ride, parking available next to metro stations to park their cars and follow their trips on the metro,” said Al Enazi. He said that park and ride will be available at Qatar University, Al Messila and Umm Ghuwailina.