I'm calling it, Doha Airport is the world's new No.1

This traveller spends more time than most in transit. Now a freshly revamped airport has just shot to his new world No.1 pick.

As holiday destinations go, Qatar’s a great place to transit through. The one and only time I actually left the arrivals hall to explore Doha I found it interesting enough, but the glitzy capital sits in the middle of a blistering desert so, for most of the year, doing anything during daylight hours is absolute madness.

The airport, by contrast, is always blissfully cool and well furnished with everything a weary traveller could desire when it’s three in the morning, their time.

I’ve been fond of Doha’s airport since the late noughties and an unforgettable encounter at immigration. As usual I was flying economy, but Qatar Airways staff had kindly arranged for me to mingle with first- and business-class flyers at the flash new premium terminal so I could get a taste of how the other half flew.

The gleaming space was empty when I arrived except for two immigration officials dressed elegantly in gilt-edged abayas and shayla head scarfs. Both were incredibly beautiful, their faces painted up like works of art. I tried not to stare as I handed my documents to one and she complimented me on “the colours in your hair” (I think she meant the greys).

After handing back my passport she framed her head with magnificently manicured hands, fluttered her rhinestone eyelashes and asked, “Do you think my face looks like a butterfly?” Yes! I blurted, keenly aware she could detain me if I gave any wrong answers.

It was such a surreal moment – like being in a Jacques Tati film where everything’s perfectly styled and state-of-the-art, but the characters are crackers. I kind of wish more airport experiences were like that.

At Doha Airport, transiting flyers are processed with blinding efficiency.

The butterfly lady’s probably long gone, but Doha’s airport can still dazzle. Especially since Hamad International emerged from a major expansion last November ahead of the FIFA World Cup. Besides the capacity to handle 58 million passengers a year, and a bulging inventory of 180 boutiques and eateries, transiting flyers are now processed with blinding efficiency by helpful, friendly staff recruited from around the globe.

Gone are the bad old days of having to separate liquids, laptops, shoes, or anything at all. The entire operation is so hi-tech that security screening takes an average of 28 seconds (you read that correctly) when you’re transferring between flights. It’s the passenger-first model I hope the rest of the world will soon follow – obviously minus the traumatic strip-search techniques used on 13 Australian women in 2020. Qatari authorities seem to have kept their tyrannical tendencies in check since.

The Orchard at Doha’s Hamad International Airport.

Besides seamless transfers, the latest renovations have furnished the massive terminal, the single largest building in Qatar, with The Orchard – a three-level-high tropical oasis of 25,000 plants, including hundreds of trees, with canopy walkways above and forest bathing beneath. There are five cartoonish children’s playgrounds and quiet rooms where you can stretch out on recliners, with separate spaces for men, women and families.

The shopping is exceptional and includes two showpiece glass temples to Louis Vuitton, an Apple store, a miniature Harrods, Thom Browne’s only airport store, the largest Ray Ban boutique in an airport and posh coffee shops by Fendi and Ralph Lauren. Hamad’s also home to the world’s first Oreo Café, if that’s your thing.

There are two hotels right inside the terminal including the recently opened Oryx Garden Hotel, whose guests have access to the 25m pool, spa and fitness centre at sister property, the Oryx Airport Hotel. And four lounges for top-tier guests of Qatar Airways and affiliated airlines, including a first-class sanctuary with its own duty-free shopping and a resident tailor to customise any new purchases (of course). There’s also a second Al Mourjan business-class lounge, this one overlooking The Orchard, with room for 700 guests, a sushi bar and – coming soon – a gym and spa.

Doha Airport has the capacity to process 58 million passengers a year.

The first international terminal I set foot in was Singapore Changi and, since that first taste of blinding airport efficiency and courtesy, it’s been my benchmark for excellence. I reckon Doha offers at least as good a passenger experience now.

I’m not the only one who thinks so. The two terminals regularly vie for top spot in the annual Skytrax airline ratings, which survey around 20 million frequent flyers for their favourite airlines, airports, cabin service etc. Qatar scooped seven Skytrax awards this year including best airport shopping, best business-class lounge and lounge dining.

Changi currently holds the title of world’s best airport and has done for eight of the past 10 years. But after its latest makeover, Doha seems a cert to take the top spot next year.

Originally published as I'm calling it, Doha Airport is the world's new No.1