OHLALA Insights

Are you looking to watch the matches on a rooftop terrace? Fanzone by INCA at The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa will have big screens on their Mix terrace offering amazing finger food and cold brews. But that’s not all; you will also party to the tunes of a DJ and samba dancers. The venue will be open every day from November 18 until December 2 from 12pm to 2am. From December 3 until the end of the competition, it will be open from 5pm to 2am. Enjoy an unlimited array of Spanish flavours and an unforgettable football experience at The Cellar located at Hyatt Regency Oryx Doha, with football matches shown live on multiple screens. The offer runs daily from November 20 to December 18, 12pm to 2am, and is priced à la carte, with tapas starting from QR55 per order.

Set on an open-air terrace, Choices Football Garden at Hyatt Regency Oryx brings a casual, fun and lively football garden ambience with giant LED screens dotted around. It will offer gourmet barbecue live cooking, a selection of beverage options, and live DJ in-between and pre- and halftime during matches. The offer runs daily from November 20 to December 18, 12pm to 2am, and is priced at QR300 for the group stage of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and QR500 for the marquee matches, quarter-finals and onwards, with food and beverage coupons given per person, per match.

The World Cup Festival 2022 at Doha Corniche will set up a global street festival along Doha’s iconic six-kilometre waterfront. The space will be transformed into a carnival with stellar performances from November 14 to December 18, from 10am to 12am. There will be concerts, art, culture, and storytelling from Sheraton Park to the Museum of Islamic Art. The event will have four live stages and more than 150 food outlets. There will also be a stunning display of light and water shows every day. The ‘Welcome to Qatar’ water and pyrotechnic shows will feature music from the Qatar 2022 Official Soundtrack, Qatari composer Wael Binali and the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra. You’ll be able to catch them every afternoon with a grand show at 9pm.

World Stage is a collaboration between Qatar Airways and Qatar Tourism, sponsored by Ooredoo, and organised by Alchemy Project under the Qatar Live 2022 series of events. The World Stage will kick off with the legendary Los Angeles trio Black Eyed Peas on November 20, with the last performance on December 17 at Doha Golf Club. Qatar Live 2022 is also presenting concerts with performances from Enrique Iglesias, Maroon 5, Post Malone, J Balvin and Robbie Williams.

Darb Lusail Festival will happen at Lusail Boulevard. The three-day festivities will represent the Middle East, Southern Asia and North Africa with headline talents, drone light shows, and artistic performances. It’s taking place from November 3 to 5, and you will need your Hayya card for entry. Doors to the Boulevard will open at 5pm, with the drone shows scheduled for 7pm. Non-ticketed performances by artists Abdulaziz Louis and Joseph Attieh will take place on November 3 and Ahmed Saad will take the stage on November 5. The only ticketed event will be on November 4, where Lusail Stadium will host some of South Asia’s biggest stars, including the legendary Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, singer Sunidhi Chauhan, composing duo Salim-Sulaiman and other acts such as Perfect Amalgamation.

ARAVIA has been released by Saudi music entertainment company MDLBEAST. The event will take place over 28 nights in Al Wakrah. With a capacity of 5,500 dance music fans, the event will showcase premiere international talents and rising regional stars during more than 160 hours of global shows and 56 spectacular acts, including international performers like Tyga, Hardwell, Afrojack, DaBaby and Steve Aoki. The line-up also includes rising Saudi artists Biirdperson, DJ duo Dish Dash and Cosmicat, as well as regional singers Hamaki and Amr Diab. Other notable stars performing include David Guetta on November 26, Tyga on December 2, Fatboy Slim on December 6 and Calvin Harris on December 7. Get the full lineup and ticket details on aravia.mdlbeast.com/en

Lusail Boulevard will be transformed into a vibrant and colourful destination at the heart of Lusail City with live music and concerts, street performances and parades. The 1.3-kilometre stretch of the boulevard has a capacity for 60,000 visitors and will also feature daily light shows and more than 50 food outlets. Some activities on the site may require admission tickets. Lusail Boulevard can be accessed from November 20 until December 18 and the series of events will run from 11am until midnight.

In the run-up to the event, many attractions, exhibitions and activities have been unveiled for fans and visitors.

The World of Football Exhibition at 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum runs until April 1, 2023, and celebrates the historic occasion with an exhibition split into two halves. Football for All, All for Football examines the universal and global appeal of football, while The Road to Doha will take you on a journey from the first FIFA World Cup matches in Uruguay in 1930 to the final at the Lusail Stadium on December 18, 2022.

Take a poll about which new art installation is creating the most community buzz in Qatar, and chances are Flag Plaza on the Corniche will emerge with flying colours. Adjacent to the Museum of Islamic Art, Flag Plaza is a visually spectacular celebration of diversity, with 119 national flags proudly waving about a dozen metres into the Doha sky. From Germany to Guinea Bissau, the Philippines to Pakistan, Kuwait to Kyrgyzstan, and Somalia to Switzerland, the flags represent all nations with diplomatic missions accredited by the State of Qatar. Over and above the high-flying icons, or right below them, to be precise, you’ll find infographic poster boards displaying interesting facts about the represented countries.

Katara Cultural Village has announced that it will organise 51 events and 300 sub-events with the participation of 22 countries. The World Cup programme will be divided into five main categories: festivals, concerts,