All international travellers who wish to enter Qatar between November 1 and December 23 must apply to get a Hayya card — the mandatory document given to World Cup players, officials, staff, media and ticket holders and their guests.
The card gives fans free metro and bus travel in Doha, as well as access to events, discounts, a free sim card and emergency medical treatment.
International supporters have to apply for the pass after buying tickets.
Organisers are expecting more than one million foreign visitors, as well as hundreds of thousands of domestic fans, for the tournament, which begins on November 20.
Qatar will resume its visit visas from December 23.
Who needs a Hayya card?
Every ticket holder needs a Hayya card to attend matches. That includes Qatar residents, who can apply using their QID and match ticket.
Visitors with a Hayya card can also invite up to three non-ticketed fans to enter Qatar with them for a QR500 ($140) fee under the ‘Hayya with Me’ programme. The service is complimentary for non-ticketed fans under the age of 12.
Those using the ‘Hayya with Me’ programme can arrive in Qatar separately.
How to apply for a Hayya card
Match ticket holders can apply at the Hayya website or through the 'Hayya to Qatar 2022' mobile app.
Applicants need to provide a colour photo (taken in the last 12 months), a passport valid until at least March 22 2023, a ticket application number and emergency contact information.
Fans attending the Fifa World Cup using the Match Day Shuttle flight service — with Qatar Airways, Saudia, flydubai, Air Arabia, Kuwait Airways and Oman Air — need to provide their travel details to receive the Hayya card.
Anyone travelling for longer than 24 hours must provide proof of accommodation on the official Hayya platform before travelling to Qatar.
The digital Hayya card will be issued to fans following the final approval of the application via the Hayya to Qatar 2022 app (Android | Apple iOS).
Fans can collect a physical copy of their digital Hayya card at one of two Hayya service centres — Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena and Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre. The Hayya card can only be printed once.
The closing date to apply for a Hayya card is December 18. The last date to enter Qatar with a Hayya card is December 23. Cardholders can stay in Qatar until January 23.
How long does it take?
Fans are advised to apply for a Hayya card as soon as their ticket purchase is confirmed to allow time for the application to be approved.
Organisers said applications for international fans should take five calendar days for preliminary approval, subject to photo and passport copy quality compliance, and up to an additional 24 hours for accommodation confirmation, depending on accommodation type.
Hayya applications for Qatar residents and citizens will take three calendar days.
Benefits of Hayya card
The Hayya card will allow multiple entries to Qatar from November 1 to December 23.
The card is also used for entry to the stadiums (with a valid match ticket), access to free public transport from November 10 to December 23, smart journey planning via the Digital Hayya, and access to fan experiences and discounts.
Visiting fans will also have access to a free SIM card with local provider Ooredoo that offers 2,022 local minutes, 2,022 local SMS and 2,022MB of data.
Fans can get the Hayya sim at one of the Ooredoo dispensing machines at airports, taxis, metro stations, hotels, fan zones, at Ooredoo shops or online at the Ooredoo eShop.
Authorities in Qatar have also announced that cardholders will have access to emergency and urgent health care services.
Visas for UAE, Saudi and Oman
Hayya cardholders can apply online for a multiple-entry tourist visa to the UAE.
The visa, which costs Dh100, is valid for 90 days from the date it is issued and can be extended for another 90 days.
Hayya cardholders are not required to have travelled to Qatar before visiting UAE.
They will also be able to apply for a free e-visa for Saudi Arabia which will allow fans to stay in the kingdom for up to 60 days.
Cardholders can also get a free 60-day visa for Oman. Visa holders can bring a first-degree relative with them to enjoy their stay in the sultanate.
Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 fan zones in Dubai — in pictures
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New Zealand 57-0 South Africa
Tries: Rieko Ioane, Nehe Milner-Skudder (2), Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Ofa Tu'ungfasi, Lima Sopoaga, Codie Taylor. Conversions: Beauden Barrett (7). Penalty: Beauden Barrett
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
A Prayer Before Dawn
Director: Jean-Stephane Sauvaire
Starring: Joe Cole, Somluck Kamsing, Panya Yimmumphai
Three stars
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
MATCH INFO
Austria 2
Hinteregger (53'), Schopf (69')
Germany 1
Ozil (11')
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Warlight,
Michael Ondaatje, Knopf
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Health Valley
Founded in 2002 and set up as a foundation in 2006, Health Valley has been an innovation in healthcare for more than 10 years in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
It serves as a place where companies, businesses, universities, healthcare providers and government agencies can collaborate, offering a platform where they can connect and work together on healthcare innovation.
Its partners work on technological innovation, new forms of diagnostics and other methods to make a difference in healthcare.
Its agency consists of eight people, four innovation managers and office managers, two communication advisers and one director. It gives innovation support to businesses and other parties in its network like a broker, connecting people with the right organisation to help them further
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