Since its inauguration in 2014, Qatar’s airport has consistently risen in ranks amongst 550 global airports, and this year, has climbed from third position to lead the global ‘World's Best Airports’ ranking. HIA has also been named the ‘Best Airport in the Middle East’ for the seventh consecutive year and ‘Best Staff Service in the Middle East’ for the sixth year in a row.

 This year’s Skytrax World’s Best Airports award commemorated the efforts of global airports in adapting and meeting the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020, as travel hubs worldwide were impacted by the pandemic, HIA innovated its airport experience to remain open throughout the global health crisis. Owing to its pre-existing business continuity plans, crisis preparedness exercises, and health and safety protocols, HIA was undeterred by global travel disruptions, continuing apace with its expansion while introducing additional airport health and safety solutions, in accordance with international standards, to offer uninterrupted connectivity to passengers and deliver essential goods around the world.

 Qatar’s airport understood the magnitude of the global health crisis, and accommodated changing traveller needs for increased sanitisation measures and contactless services by implementing advanced technological solutions.

 One of the first COVID-19-related measures HIA implemented were vending machines that provide disposable and reusable personal protective equipment (PPE), including face masks and hand sanitisers for passengers.

 Foreseeing the long-term need for wearing masks, HIA secured its airport experience with its homegrown automated facial detection system that utilises computer vision and artificial intelligence to ensure the wearing of masks for all its staff.