The festival’s heritage zone gave travellers the opportunity to try on traditional Qatari costumes and receive Polaroid photos. A calligraphy artist wrote passengers’ names in traditional Arabic script before gifting them, with other handicraft activities in the zone including a Henna body art workshop and a net maker. Traditional Qatari dance performances (Fraisa) wowed guests as they visited the zone.

Elsewhere, a popular kids’ zone offered a giant Lego experience and a painting wall while Eid was celebrated by distributing Eid greeting cards. ‘Edu-tainment’ features included a nutrition activation which gave away healthy snacks, and back-to-school activities helped to prepare kids for the school season.

As well as the heritage and kids’ zones, Hamad International hosted 98 hours of diverse performance arts across the terminal. Travellers also enjoyed Qatari hospitality by visiting the Gahwa (Arabic coffee) and dates section.

Passengers with longer transfer times could take part in a ‘Complete Your Story’ Instagram activity. It encouraged them to find different ‘Summer in Qatar’ activities around the terminal and share their experience on the social media site. Participants were randomly selected to have their stories reposted to the airport’s official Instagram account and also given vouchers to redeem at various F&B and retail outlets.

Hamad International Chief Operating Officer Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer hailed the success of the event and said it had highlighted “a shared commitment to promoting Qatar as a destination of choice and making its hospitable culture shine” at the airport.