The covid tests to enter Qatar will no longer be mandatory before traveling for those who visit the emirate from November 1, 20 days after the start of the World Cup, the Ministry of Public Health announced on Wednesday.
The Qatar 2022 World Cup, which will take place from November 20 to December 18, is the first major global sports event that is open to the public since the beginning of the sanitary isolation that occurred in 2020. More are expected for this event of a million spectators from the five continents to gather in the small emirate of the Persian Gulf.
Qatari citizens and residents will also not need to take a Covid test 24 hours before returning to the country from abroad, the ministry added.
The new measures will apply to visitors arriving from November 1, when Qatar will close access to anyone (other than nationals and residents) who do not have a Hayya card, the mandatory document given to those with tickets for the stadiums, their guests, players, media, World Cup workers and authorities.