Hamad International Airport hosts Appreciation Dinner

Hamad International Airport (HIA) hosted an Airport Stakeholders Appreciation Dinner this week to commemorate all airport partners and stakeholders who have been a part of Qatar’s award-winning airport, which completed two years of operations last month. His Excellency JassimSaif Ahmed Al Sulaiti, Minister of Transport and Communications, attended the event to present airport stakeholders and partners with appreciation certificates on behalf of HIA.

HIA staff and representatives from a number of airport stakeholders were present at the event including representatives of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Qatar Civil Aviation Authority, Qatar Tourism Authority, Qatar Museums, Ministry of Interior, Airport Immigration, General Authority of Customs, CID, Qatar Airways, Qatar Duty Free and Qatar Airways Cargo. Minister of Transport and Communications, His Excellency Mr. JassimSaif Ahmed Al Sulaiti said: “Hamad International Airport has achieved tremendous success since its opening and has made the country proud as the gateway into Qatar and to the rest of the world. I am happy the airport has organised this appreciation event to recognise all their partners who have played an integral role in the airport’s success.”

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker said: “Hamad International Airport is a major part of Qatar Airways group. In a short period of time, the Qatar Airways’ hub became one of the main airports in the region and across the world, and a destination by itself. We extend our special thanks to the ministry of transportation, all partners and stakeholders for presenting this good image of Qatar, and we look forward for more achievements.”

Engr. Badr Mohammed Al Meer, Chief Operating Officer of Hamad International Airport, stated: “It is our honour to work alongside partners who have made our growth and success possible. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our airport stakeholders for their tireless efforts and constant support. We are proud and grateful for all that we have accomplished together; but this is only the beginning. We will reach greater heights together.”

Hamad International Airport’s official theme music ‘The Beginning’, was also exclusively revealed to guests. The music has been composed by Dana Al Fardan, the founder and CEO of DNA records, an independent music label based in Doha and in London. The musical piece was performed by the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra in front of the iconic Lamp Bear in HIA and beside the airport runway and guests at the dinner became the first to view the new video.

Hamad International Airport is a multiple award-winning airport having been acknowledged as the ‘Best Airport in the Middle East’ by Skytrax World Airport Awards for 2015 and 2016 and having become the first airport in the Middle East to enter the World’s Top 10 Best Airports of the Skytrax World Airport Ranking.

HIA’s services and facilities include Qatar Duty Free, a premium shopping emporium with more than 40,000 square metres of combined retail and dining with more than 70 boutiques and 30 cafés and restaurants. HIA also boasts an airside hotel, two airside squash courts, a gym, a 25-metre swimming pool and spa, all within easy reach of the departure gates. The airport also features two runways with dual capacity, one of the largest free span maintenance hangars in the world, a cutting-edge two-storey cargo facility and one of the world’s largest self-contained catering facilities.

Hamad International Airport-Qatar is the platinum sponsor of legendary German football club, FC Bayern-Munich. HIA is the first airport to sponsor a world-stage team, and chose to partner with Bayern-Munich because of the team’s long track record of success. This partnership supports the State of Qatar’s vision for global sports leadership.