Corniche set to become world’s largest ‘theatre’
The Doha Corniche area will turn into the largest theatre in the world for live performances with the kick-off of the opening match of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, scheduled between Qatar and Ecuador at Al Bayt Stadium next Sunday.
The entertainment activities accompanying the tournament will conclude with the final match on Dec. 18.
Pedestrianised from the first of this month, the Corniche will provide a safe environment for fans as traffic from other streets also have been diverted to keep the area accessible and comfortable.
Central Doha and Corniche Street are designated as the most important and vital tourist attractions in Qatar. The entities organising FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 have placed great emphasis on these areas to reflect their tourist and cultural significance. The areas are also developed in a way to encourage a healthy lifestyle and protect the environment.
The waterfront has been decorated with palm frond-shaped lighting poles that reflect Qatari heritage. Pedestrian underpasses and plazas have been constructed to facilitate the movement of people between Al Corniche and the adjoining areas and these have been decorated with sculptures and artworks.
Three dhow (boat) docks were also completed at Al Corniche – Al Bidda, Dafna and Sheraton Park – in preparation for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Major events at the Corniche area include giant display screens to broadcast football matches, musical festivals, cultural activities, in addition to a number of street fairs from around the world. The entertainment shows in this area are the most important events Qatar will witness during the tournament, bringing a special carnival atmosphere along the 6-km promenade from the Sheraton Grand Doha Hotel to MIA Park.
Fans will have amazing experiences upon their arrival in Doha to participate in the largest sporting event in the world. The entertainment programme includes over 90 special events that are poised to be organised on the sidelines of the tournament.
Moreover, there will be shows by performing artists, cultural activities, food & beverage stalls and shops. Up to 120,000 persons are expected to visit the area during the peak times.
Al Bidda Park on Doha Corniche will host the FIFA Fan Festival, where World Cup matches will be broadcasted via giant screens.
The Doha Corniche area is set to turn into the largest theatre for live performances in the world with the kick-off of the opening match of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, scheduled between Qatar and Ecuador at Al Bayt Stadium next Sunday.
The entertainment activities accompanying the tournament will conclude with the final match on December 18.
Vehicles will be diverted away from the Corniche area to provide a safe environment for pedestrians crossing the pier and other streets on the Corniche Road.
Diversions will be made from the intersections of Ras Bu Aboud, Sheraton, Meena, Sword Arch, Al Diwan, Al Marmar, Al Maha and Barzan.
Some restrictions are already in place with respect to the public access to Corniche and public parks, along with sites frequented by pedestrians.
Electric scooters, motorbikes, and bicycles are banned from the sites whilst ships and boats will be allowed to operate on condition that they keep away from the marine protected area. There will also be instructions for boat owners.
The new no-parking areas include Souq Waqif, Al Shouyoukh Mosque, existing Al Bidda parking areas opposite Al Rayyan Street, near Al Istiqlal Street, in addition to all parking lots within the diversion area.
Central Doha and Corniche Street have been designated the most important and vital tourist attractions in Qatar. The entities organising the World Cup have placed great emphasis on these areas during its development to reflect their tourist and cultural significance.
The beautification of the Central Doha and Corniche Street is intended to make the area more vibrant by according priority to people and pedestrians and promoting healthy lifestyles by reducing the dependence on vehicles. This is in addition to carrying out beautification works for the main streets and residential areas and taking up environment conservation projects.
The Central Doha and Corniche Beautification Project aims connect the internal and externally areas as well as restore archaeological sites.
The waterfront has been decorated with palm frond-shaped lighting poles that reflects the Qatari heritage. Pedestrian underpasses and plazas have been constructed to facilitate the movement of people along the Corniche. To enhance the aesthetics of these underpasses and plazas, sculptures and artworks of various Qatari and resident artists have been installed, as well as cafes set up.
Doha Corniche has been decorated with 1,440 palm frondshaped lighting poles in harmony with the sprawling palm trees on the Corniche along with the provision of 655 lighting poles with distinctive features in the central Doha area.
The Doha Central and Corniche Street Development and Beautification Project provides a substantial number of parking spaces with a capacity for over 7,700 vehicles underground in different parts across the city, in addition to the construction of three pedestrian and cycle underpasses connecting Corniche and Doha city.
Pedestrian and cycle tracks have been constructed to encourage visitors to take up sports. To beautify the landscape, trees have been planted and streets paved with stones that reflect the archaeological and historical depth of the area.
The project’s works included the maintenance and cultivation of multiple trees and landscaping.
Over 137,000sq m of green areas was planted, including 940 trees and 920 palm trees on Corniche Street, in addition to 17,000sq m of green areas with 1,360 trees or more planted in the central Doha area.
The completion of the Dhow Boat Docks project was recently announced in three locations at Al Corniche: Al Bidda pedestrian path, Dafna pedestrian path and the Sheraton Park in preparation for the World Cup tournament.
Dhow Boat Docks are considered the facades of Qatar’s civilisation and heritage, enabling the visitors to explore Doha and its waterfront.
The docks provide appropriate and secure corridors for all age groups that contribute to facilitating the process of passengers boarding the boats, taking into consideration persons with disabilities whom the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) places great emphasis on in its all projects through providing utilities that help them integrate into the community.
A unified design was adopted in the three docks while taking into consideration the possibility of expanding them and increasing the number of parking spaces in each dock in the future.
Major events include giant display screens to broadcast football matches in several areas in Doha and across the country and fan zones, musical festivals, cultural activities, in addition to presenting plenty of street fairs from around the world.
The entertainment shows in the Corniche area are the most important events Qatar will witness during the tournament, bringing a special carnival atmosphere for 6km from the Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel to MIA Park.
An entertainment and cultural programme punctuated by special activities and events is awaiting football fans from around the world that will target all family groups.
Fans will have amazing experiences upon their arrival in Doha to participate in the largest sporting event in the world.
A wide range of entertainment and cultural events and activities will be organised for citizens, residents, and visitors, in collaboration with numerous partners.
The entertainment events programme include over 90 special events that are poised to be organised on the sidelines of the tournament.
The Corniche-dedicated programme will include shows by performance artists, cultural activities, food & beverage kiosks, and shops, as over 120,000 persons are expected to visit the area during the peak times of the entertainment events programme.
Fans attending the tournament programme will also enjoy a broad range of entertainment shows in the vicinity of the eight stadiums. The programme will include over 6,000 shows and performance at 21 various sites.
The list of shows include a myriad of arts forms, notably artistic shows, heritage & handcraft, fashion shows, performance arts, music, and film screening.
Al Bidda Park on Doha Corniche will host the FIFA Fan Festival, where World Cup matches will be broadcasted via giant screens with performances and shows, cultural activities, numerous events and activities presented by the tournament sponsors, as well as food and beverage kiosks.
The FIFA Fan Festival is set to be inaugurated on November 20, with the capacity of accommodating nearly 40,000 visitors along with the opening of the fan zones in Al Khor city and the Industrial Area, and other areas that will be announced later.
The most prominent tourist attractions during the tournament include 974 Beach Club located near Stadium 974.
The Club will present a package of various activities and musical performance and sales outlets targeting approximately 10,000 visitors.
Moreover, Lusail Downtown, located near Lusail Stadium will host distinguished shows of street arts for approximately 50,000 masses per day.