As many as 260,000 Hayya cards have been issued to fans ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Saeed Al Kuwari, Executive Director of the Hayya platform at the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) told CNBC Arabia TV.
Hayya card will be the only gateway for fans wishing to enter Qatar during the World Cup, which begins on November 20, 2022.
Al Kuwari said issuing Hayya card is a sovereign right of Qatar and is in line with the country’s security strategy for the tournament.
“Hayya card requires a match ticket. Only fans who purchased a match ticket can apply for the card,” Al Kuwari had earlier told Alkass TV.
He said approval for a Hayya card takes five days for applicants from outside Qatar and three days for those who applied within Qatar.
In case of delays longer than this, the applicants should contact call centre on 0097444412022 from out of Qatar and on 2022 from inside Qatar, Al Kuwari said. The call centre is running in multiple languages approved by FIFA.
He said the most frequently asked question by fans is how much time was needed for approval of a Hayya card.
“We have a complete team comprising about 80 people to ensure that the approval would be done on time. The given time of five days from outside and three days from Qatar is before the World Cup begins. During the tournament, however, the approval time will be made faster.” He also advised fans to use the app (Hayya to Qatar 22) to easily access the procedures required for the World Cup.
According to an earlier report, Hayya card would be considered an entry visa to Qatar from November 1 to December 23, 2022. It also serves as a mandatory permit to enter the stadiums for visitors, citizens and residents of Qatar. It also makes its holder eligible for free public transportation and will also allow fans to attend a number of activities accompanying the competition.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee had announced earlier that the tournament would receive 1.2 million fans from outside Qatar. As many as 2.45 million tickets have already been sold, as announced by FIFA a few days ago. It had also said that the final stage of sale of remaining match tickets would start at the end of September 2022.
All those wishing to enter the country during the tournament are required to obtain a digital Hayya card, which in turn requires the purchase of a ticket to be issued.
Fans from all over the world, including GCC nationals, will not be allowed to enter Qatar without a Hayya Card during the tournament. The card will be mandatory for everyone, except Qatar’s citizens and residents., to enter the country during the tournament.