QDC opens branch in West Bay

The Qatar Distribution Company - QDC - opens its new branch at West Bay in the Hotel Park. The branch is accessible only by vehicles, and pedestrians are not given access to the location. 

The store of the branch is accessible through the Sheraton Road, Hotel car park entrance at Basement Level 1. 

Below is the designated parking facility for QDC customers:

The QDC West Bay Branch map. Credit - QDC

The rules for the QDC permit apply to the QDC West Bay branch as well.

• All regular QDC permit rules apply.
• Enter through Sheraton Road, Hotel car park entrance. Basement Level 1. Park in the designated car park for QDC customers.
• QDC West Bay is accessible by vehicle only. Pedestrians will not be permitted.
• Present your permit card at all entrances.
• Wearing a mask is advisable for all customers. 
• Show your Ehteraz App when visiting QDC.
• Please arrive on time for your appointment, late-comers will not be granted access to QDC.
• To avoid the heat, please wait in your car until your appointment time.
• No appointment, no entry.
• There is a purchase limit at the West Bay Hotel Park store. QDC will notify you about the said limit once you book your appointment.

Book an appointment to visit the QDC West Bay branch through their online platform.

QDC West Bay Branch schedule application form.

(Source: QDC)

Hayya with Me feature accessible for international FIFA fans

 Fans applying through the one plus three feature cannot be Qatar ID holders, clarifies SC.

International fans who are traveling to Qatar for this year’s FIFA World Cup now have the option to invite up to three non-ticketed fans to attend the tournament.

The ‘Hayya with Me (1+3)’ feature allows international Hayya Card holders to invite up to three non-ticketed fans to attend the FIFA World Cup, which will be held from November 20 to December 18. The feature is only applicable to approved Hayya Card holders aged 18 or above who applied using a FIFA World Cup ticket number.

The non-ticketed fans applying through a Hayya with Me (1+3) voucher can be any age. They must hold a valid passport and cannot be Qatar ID holders.

They must also confirm their accommodation in Qatar during the tournament. Each Hayya with Me (1+3) applicant will need to pay a non-refundable QAR 500 fee. The charge will not apply to children under 12.

In order to take advantage of the Hayya with Me (1+3) feature, approved Hayya Card holders should follow the below steps:

Select ‘My Hayya’ and click ‘Action’
Select ‘Hayya with Me’
The holder will see three voucher codes

Voucher codes should be given to non-ticketed applicants

The Hayya with Me (1+3) applicant should follow these steps:
Apply for Hayya Card
From ‘Applicant Category’, select ‘Hayya with Me Voucher’
Enter voucher code
Select ‘Validate my Voucher’
Accept terms, review, and submit

International fans with approved Hayya Card applications will receive an entry permit to the State of Qatar via email. The Hayya Card will provide access to stadiums, as well as free public transport for the duration of the tournament and numerous discounts.

Every Hayya Card application will need to confirm a user’s accommodation – whether the booking is through the Qatar Accommodation Agency (QAA) or a third party.

Fans are also reminded that the largest variety of accommodation is available from the QAA, including cruise ship cabins, apartments, villas, hotels, and fan villages. The QAA features a variety of options, ranging from $80 per room, per night, based on two-person occupancy. New inventory is now available via the QAA and will continue to be released over the coming weeks – fans are encouraged to keep checking the portal.

Fans also have the option of booking accommodation from third parties, including hotels and holiday rental websites.

(Source: The Peninsula)

Qatar Museums revises ticketing

Qatar Museums has revised its ticketing policy for entry into museums. The new policy has already taken effect and will last until December 31, 2022. Members of the community and visitors to Qatar who wish to visit any of the institutions within the Qatar Museums network should book and purchase tickets through the Qatar Museums website. Museum admission tickets also include entry to exhibitions.

The revised ticketing bundles are as follows:

- Entry to either the National Museum of Qatar, 3-2-1 Qatar and Olympic Sports Museum, or the Museum of Islamic Art is QAR 100 for adults and free for children aged 16 years and under, as well as One Pass holders. 

- Entry to Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art is QAR 50 for adults and free for children aged 16 and under, as well as One Pass holders. 

- Entry to Al Zubarah Archaeological Site is QAR 35 for adults and free entry for children aged 16 and under, as well as One Pass holders. 

(Source: The Peninsula)

Education Ministry announces school working hours for Qatar 2022

Ministry of Education and Higher Education in the public interest, and in accordance with the country's preparations to host the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, has decided that the working hours of students and staff in public and private schools, during the period November 1 to 17, 2022, will be as follows:

- The working hours of governmental and private schools are from 7 in the morning until 12 in the afternoon.

- The students' working hours in governmental and private schools, during the period from 1st to 3rd of November, will be from 7 in the morning until 12 in the afternoon.

The working hours of staff and students/children in private nurseries and education centers for people with disabilities are as usual before and during the World Cup.

- During the end of the first semester exams period (from November 6 to November 17), students in public schools and private schools that apply national standards will be from 9 am until 11 am.

- According to the ministerial decision, the mid-year vacation starts from November 20 to December 22, 2022.

The Ministry takes this opportunity to emphasize the importance of everyone's role to make the country's hosting of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 a real success.

(Source: The Peninsula)

80 percent of government staff in Qatar to work remotely from Nov 1 to Dec 19

The working hours in the government sector will be from 7am to 11am during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, and 80% of the staff will be required to work remotely.

This, and other details of the Cabinet's decisions regarding the work system in government agencies and educational institutions, and arrangements for the Doha Corniche during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and its accompanying events, were announced by the Official Spokesman for the Government Communications Office (GCO), Dr. Mohamed bin Nuwaymi al-Hajri, the official Qatar News Agency reported.

1. The official said that according to the Cabinet's decisions, the following will be implemented from November 1 (Tuesday), until Monday, December 19:

* In the government sector, the number of employees present in the workplace will be reduced to 20% of the total number of employees in an entity, while 80% will continue their work remotely.

* The working hours according to the new system will be from 7am to 11am.

* The military, security, health, and educational sectors are excluded from these decisions, noting that vital sectors of the country will not be affected.

* The Doha Corniche is to be allocated for pedestrians to ensure the continuation of the events accompanying the World Cup.

2. The GCO official also made announcements regarding the education sector, based on the Cabinet decisions. Following are the details for public and private schools from November 1 to 17:

* The working hours for public and private schools that apply national standards will be from 7am until 12 noon.

* Students' and employees' working hours in public and private schools will be from 7am until 12 noon. However, during the end-of-first-semester exam period (November 6 to 17), students in public and private schools that apply national standards will be from 9am until 11am, according to a related statement by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE).

* The mid-term holiday will be from November 20 until December 22.

* The ministry said in its statement that the working hours of staff/children in private nurseries and education centers for people with disabilities will be as usual before and during the World Cup.

* The MoEHE emphasized the importance of everyone's role to make the country's hosting of the World Cup a real success.

3. Private sector international companies:

* These will continue with their regular schedule during the World Cup.

(Source: Gulf Times)