Doha Corniche - Largest Theatre of Live Performance during World Cup

Largest Theatre of Live Performance - Doha Corniche

The Doha Corniche area will turn into the largest theater 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, through the entertainment activities accompanying the tournament, which will conclude with the final match on Dec. 18th.

Vehicles will be diverted away from the Corniche area to provide a safe environment for pedestrians crossing in the Corniche area, the pier or 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 were set with respect to the public access to Corniche and public parks, along with the sites crowded with pedestrians. Electric scooters, motorbikes, and bicycles are banned whilst ships and boats will be allowed to operate on condition that they shall be away from the marine protected area. There will be instructions for the boats' owners. The Unavailable parking areas include Souq Waqif, Al Shouyoukh Mosque, Al Bidda parking areas opposite to Al Rayyan Street, near Al Istiqlal Street, in addition to all parking lots within the diversion area.

Central Doha and Corniche Street are designated as the most important and vital tourist attractions in the State of Qatar. The entities organizing FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 had placed great emphasis on those areas during their development to reflect their tourist and cultural significance.

The beautification of Central Doha and Corniche Street is intended to make the area vibrant enough through giving the priority to the people and pedestrians and promoting healthy lifestyles and reducing the dependance on vehicles, in addition to carrying out beautification works for the main Streets, residential areas and environment conservation.

The Central Doha and Corniche Beautification Project aims to maintain the Qatari identity before the State of Qatar's guests in FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, connecting the pedestrian internal areas with each other, and externally with the adjacent areas, identifying new areas for users, as well as the restoration of the archeological sites.

The waterfront was decorated with palm frond-shaped lighting poles that reflects the Qatari heritage. Likewise, pedestrian underpasses and plazas had been constructed to facilitate the movement of people between Al Corniche and the areas connected to the underpasses with the addition of an aesthetic touch to these underpasses and plazas by installing sculptures and artworks of various Qatari and resident artists, as well as establishing cafes overlooking the waterfront in pursuit of creating a unique experience for people.

Doha Corniche had been decorated through 1,440 palm frond-shaped lighting poles in harmony with the sprawling palm trees on the Corniche beach along with the provision of 655 lighting poles with a distinctive feature in central Doha area.

Doha Central & Corniche Street Development and Beautification Project provides a substantial number of parking spaces with the 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 between Corniche and Doha city, namely underpasses of Al Corniche, Al Bidda and Al Dafna, alongside the construction of pedestrian dedicated underpass at the Museum of Islamic Art.

The project currently is constructing a fifth pedestrian dedicated underpass, namely Khalifa underpass that links between Corniche Metro Station and the area adjacent to Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, in addition to constructing three plazas 'Al Dafna, Al Corniche & Al Bidda', where each plaza will be connected to a pedestrian underpass reaching Corniche from Doha city.

The Corniche Street Development and Beautification Project also included the provision of numerous cafes and some service utilities, such as rest areas equipped with potable water coolers, praying rooms, ablution areas, as well as displays and monitors. Pedestrian and cycle tracks had also been constructed to be a healthy and secure outlet for the visitors to encourage them to practice sports, in addition to increasing the landscapes, trees plantation, and paving the streets with natural stones to reflect the archeological and historical depth of the area.

The project's works included the maintenance and cultivation of multiple trees and landscapes with the objective of upgrading the life quality and improving the area's landscape, in addition to reducing the temperatures and providing a healthy environment inside the residential districts and vital assembly points.

Over 137,000 square meters of green areas were also planted, including 940 trees and 920 palm trees with the necessary preservation and maintenance of the environmental legacy of the sprawling palm trees on Corniche Street, because of their environmental and social significance, in addition to 17,000 square meters of green areas with 1,360 trees or more, which have been planted in central Doha area.

Pedestrian dedicated tracks and crossings were provided along with cycle tracks connecting all vital centers with each other in the area, including a 7 km jogging track, in addition to 1 km pedestrian and cycles tracks in Central Doha area that were specifically designed for persons with disabilities. 

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 third one at Sheraton Park in preparation for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 tournament, and in cooperation with Qatar Tourism, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Municipality, and Private Engineering Office. 

Dhow Boat Docks are considered the facades of the State of Qatar's civilization and heritage, enabling the visitors to explore Doha and its waterfront, which is why the construction of the docks was done in a streamlined manner that depends on the consistency of materials used to match the underpasses located in the Doha Corniche.

Sustainable materials were used that can withstand the weather conditions, whether in water or land by observing the highest quality and safety standards. The second and the third sites include drainage network and a low-voltage power grid, while the third site comprises potable water network.

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 in Corniche area 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 a plenty of street fairs from around the world. The entertainment shows in Corniche area are the most important events Qatar will witness during the tournament, bringing a pretty and special carnival atmosphere for 6 km from the Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel to MIA Park.    

An entertainment and cultural program 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 organized for citizens, residents, and visitors, in collaboration with numerous partners. The entertainment events program includes over 90 special events that are poised to be organized on the sidelines of the tournament.

The Corniche dedicated program will include shows by the 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 program.

Fans attending the tournament program will also enjoy a broad range of entertainment shows in the vicinities of the eight stadiums that will witness the competitions of the global event. The program will include over 6,000 shows and performance in 21 various sites. The list of shows includes 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 distinguished performances and shows, cultural activities, numerous events and activities presented by the tournament sponsors, as well as food and beverage kiosks.

FIFA Fan Festival is set to be inaugurated on Nov. 20, 2022, 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.

(QNA)