A new wonder of the airport world: On location as Hamad International Airport unveils The Orchard : Moodie Davitt Report

UPDATED 12/11

DOHA, QATAR, 10 NOVEMBER. The Moodie Davitt Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie is on location today for the inauguration of the extraordinary Hamad International Airport (HIA) Expansion.

Look out for our rolling coverage throughout the day in words, photos, videos and podcasts (click here for a collection of short videos detailing various aspects of the Expansion).

The magnificent Expansion features more than 90 brands in one vast shopping area, a world-class art collection, a refreshing environment with lush greenery, and a 10,000sq m indoor tropical garden called The Orchard with a 268-sqm water feature – designed to be a focal point for all travellers.

The unique design of the area allows trees and plants to adapt easily to the internal conditions and grow throughout the life of the airport. The Orchard benefits from copious natural light, an approach designed to create a calming ambiance and promote a sense of wellbeing.

The Orchard’s extensive flora includes over 300 trees and more than 25,000 plants and shrubs sourced from sustainable forests around the world, including Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore. The commercial offer boasts 65 stores and 35 food & beverage outlets, with some operations featuring world-first mixes of both.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker stated: “We are very pleased to be launching the Expansion of Hamad International Airport, an airport that has truly grown to become the ultimate example of a successful, sustainable global facility.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker (left) and Hamad International Airport Chief Operating Officer Engr. Badr Mohammed Al Meer address today’s media conference

The Moodie Davitt Report Chairman Martin Moodie (second row) was the sole travel retail media representative at the packed media conference

“HIA continues to impress with its innovative planning, execution and investment – enhancing its position as the preferred hub for global travelers and reinforcing HIA’s position amongst the top leaders of this industry. The opening of our newly expanded terminal further connects the growing number of travelers to all corners of the world, enriching people’s experiences and proudly representing the State of Qatar’s rich culture and prestige.”

The Moodie Davitt Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie is on location at Hamad International Airport and will bring you rolling coverage over coming hours

A New Wonder of the Airport World

The expansion offers a refreshing environment with lush greenery, and a 10,000sq m indoor tropical garden

A shopping and dining extravaganza

Qatar Duty Free has unveiled what it described as an unparalleled luxury and premium offer in The Orchard, featuring 65 retail and dining outlets spread across its three levels.

Food & beverage options include over 20 cafes and restaurants offering an eclectic array of local and global cuisines.

The retail and F&B line-up features many world firsts and exclusives, including a duplex Fendi boutique complemented by the first airport Fendi Café, and a debut Ralph’s Coffee Shop in an airport. The adjacent North node also houses the world’s first airport Oreo Café (below).

The enhanced retail offer is studded with luxury and premium boutiques, including the first Dior boutique at HIA, and the world’s only FIFA shop.

Thom Browne (pictured next to Zegna below) introduces its first airport store, while The Orchard features the largest Ray-Ban store in an airport, and a line-up of prestigious brands such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Burberry, Tiffany and Co, Omega, Bvlgari, and many more world-renowned labels.

A classical music duo provided the perfect accompaniment to the recorded bird song in The Orchard

The Orchard tropical garden features around 30 different species of trees and more than 90 different species of plants and shrubs

A walkway gives passengers breath-taking views of the tropical garden below

Let’s not forget that this is a working airport. Extraordinary.

(Above and below) Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker and Hamad International Airport Chief Operating Officer Engr. Badr Mohammed Al Meer lead a tour of dignitaries before the inauguration

Hamad International Airport Chief Operating Officer Engr. Badr Mohammed Al Meer talks to media (including The Moodie Davitt Report from the travel retail press) after the inauguration

A proud Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, makes his way to The Orchard after the official ceremony. Pictured right is Qatar Duty Free Vice President Thabet Musleh.

A classical musical duet added the perfect accompaniment to the bird song in The Orchard

Press Conference

“Hamad International Airport has an environment unmatched anywhere in the world” — Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker (left)

Martin Moodie and (right) a very happy Thabet Musleh, Qatar Duty Free Vice President Operations, on a seminal day in travel retail and his career

The Central Concourse and Retail and Food & Beverage zone is anchored by The Orchard, the newly named zone comprising a vast indoor tropical garden, giant water feature, expansive retail and F&B offer, all under a huge grid shell roof

A Luxury Playground

Tiffany & Co. is one of many prestigious houses to feature in the luxury-focused Expansion

Dior dazzles in this refined and expansive space

(Above and below) A second Louis Vuitton graces Hamad International Airport. Click here to read our on location report of the first Louis Vuitton store opening in August, 2022. The façade is made of recycled plastics.

The magnificent Expansion is truly a new wonder of the airport world. It will be subject of an upcoming multi-media publication between The Moodie Davitt Report and Qatar Duty Free.

(Above and below) The Orchard takes on a different character and beauty by night

The chic Fendi Bar offers delicious treats and panoramic views over the gardens below

(Above and below) The statuesque two-storey Fendi boutique towers behind the Fendi Bar

A show-stopping retail space: The duplex Fendi boutique pays homage to the house’s Italian heritage with Roman columns decorating the exterior

(Above and below) Polo Ralph Lauren features an expansive boutique offering men’s, women’s and kid’s ranges plus a world-first Ralph’s Coffee with magnificent views over The Orchard.

Mesmerising use of digital by British luxury house Burberry

(Above and below) Note the sublime digital wrap that encircles the entire space over some 1.2km of high-resolution display. The state of the art media technology displays more than 169 million pixels of animation on screen.

The new Ray-Ban boutique is the brand’s largest airport boutique in the world

A racing simulator is one of the standout features in the Capi multi-brand consumer technology store

Qatar Duty Free Brand Manager Mohammed Owais Qurashi and Martin Moodie pose for a photo opportunity in the elegant Omega boutique

A new world of beauty

(Above and below) Dazzling Dior: A fragrance and beauty space by Dior is one of the standout boutiques in the perfumes & cosmetics zone

La Prairie, Lancôme, Diptyque, Chanel, Guerlain, Bvlgari and Penhaligon’s among many others make up the world-class beauty offer in the Expansion

A diverse wines and spirits offer

Major spirits brands such as Hennessy and Rémy Martin lead the liquor assortment

While liqueurs such as Amarula and Sōmrus add vibrancy, colour and flavour

Tobacco and reduced risk tobacco products also feature prominently

Retail meets food & beverage again: The North node, adjacent to The Orchard, houses the world’s first airport Oreo Café with an adjacent store selling Oreo and other Mondelez International Travel Retail products

A second airport hotel and multiple new lounges

As part of the Expansion, HIA has launched the second airport hotel within its transfer area, the Oryx Garden Hotel.

Located in the North Plaza, the 100-room hotel focuses on sustainability, with rooms ranging from king to twin, as well as suites strategically located moments away from the boarding gates.

To enhance the overall experience at the Oryx Garden Hotel, guests can use the passenger train to visit the near-by Oryx Airport Hotel in the South Plaza should they want to use its Vitality Wellbeing Spa and Fitness Centre. The centre features a 25-metre swimming pool, gym, spa and squash court.

As part of the Expansion, HIA has four new lounges for passengers to relax and unwind: Al Mourjan Business Lounge – The Garden; Al Mourjan Business Lounge – North; Platinum and Gold lounge – North; and Silver Lounge – North.

And more excitement to come

With sustainability at the core of HIA’s plans, the airport company has managed to acheive 4-star ratings under the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) from Gulf Organization for Research & Development for four of its projects in the Expansion.

These include The Orchard; Oryx Garden Hotel & North Plaza lounges; Al Mourjan Business Lounge – the Garden; and the Remote Transfer Baggage Facility.

With Phase A of HIA’s expansion plans now up and running in time for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 (kicking off on 20 November), Phase B of the expansion – set to commence in early 2023 – will further increase the capacity of the airport to well over 70 million passengers. It will see two new concourses constructed within the existing terminal.