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Worldwide in small doses: They come to Qatar during the day and return at night
Doha, 18 November (EFE). – Qatar’s high overnight prices, alcohol restrictions and logistical facilities for travel and relocation have prompted thousands of fans to attend the World Cup that day, either because they live in neighboring countries or because they like other cities in the region the liberal Dubai decide. Every day, thousands of fans from all over the world come to Doha to watch this year’s World Cup. Most arrive with large suitcases and their first mission is to find a way to get to the place that will house them for the next few days or weeks. Others, on the other hand, come with their clothes, maybe a small backpack with a passport, some cash, a coat in case it gets cold in the stadium, and above all: tickets for the day’s game. “When we looked at accommodation prices in Qatar during the World Cup, we had to look for alternatives and Dubai was the best option for us as a city because of the distance, ease of access and offers,” explains Ruth Cabral, who lives with her husband and her three children had traveled from Uruguay. The Cabrals landed in Qatar on one of the more than 30 daily flights operated by Emirati low-cost airline FlyDubai. It takes 50 minutes, the process is agile as they don’t carry luggage, and at Doha International Airport they were greeted with local coffee, dates, a chip with internet, and fast and free transportation to downtown or stadiums. Although it costs them $300 per person each time they travel to and from Dubai, Ruth points out that it was still cheaper than staying in Doha, where the accommodation available was too expensive or uncomfortable for a family with three children were. The downside of this decision, she and some of the passengers on her arrival flight emphasize, is that they miss everyday World Cup life on the streets of Qatar and, above all, the late-evening return flights, which arrive completely exhausted. Others, like Englishman John Kirton and his two sons, choose to travel overland from Dubai through Saudi Arabia. As he explained to EFE, whenever England plays, they drive to the UAE-Saudi Arabia border, where they take a taxi to cross over to Qatar. From there, a free bus will take you to a metro station in Doha that connects to all stadiums. The whole process costs about $600 and takes about six hours, although more than once they were late to the capital of Qatar and late for the game. The motivation for the Kirtons, like many others who come to Doha for the day, is not only the price of accommodation and the lack of availability, but also the restrictions on alcohol consumption and what they feel is limited entertainment. Aside from the fans who choose to stay outside of Qatar, the largest group of people crossing the borders on an almost daily basis is from neighboring countries, particularly neighboring Saudi Arabia. One of them is Rakán al Haqbani, who has moved from his native Riyadh to the town of Al Hofuf, less than two hours from the border, and is staying with a group of friends during the World Cup, with whom he is coming to Doha. to watch the games. Behind him comes Maher al Saidalani, also a Saudi, who drives back to Riyadh every night after the day’s game to sleep in his own bed. However, it’s not just locals who come from neighboring countries to support their teams during the World Cup. Many of those who land in Doha daily are migrant workers residing temporarily in the Persian Gulf countries, taking advantage of the proximity and logistical ease to travel at the weekend. “This opportunity to come to a game during the day is excellent. It gives us flexibility, working in this region, and it’s very convenient to come in the morning, watch the game and come back in the evening,” explained the Spaniard, Efe Ricardo Ramirez, who has lived in Kuwait for several years, where he is in the oil industry works. “I come to all the games I can, it’s an excellent experience, well organised, safe and with very good service and although I could sleep here it’s so much better for me,” he concludes. Pablo Duer (c) EFE Agency