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Qatar Tourism (QT) has announced that the Hayya platform has been awarded the silver award in the “Technical Innovation of the Year in Government Technology” category at the 2026 Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence, recognising its continued evolution as a digital platform driving artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled, automated and intelligently integrated government services.Since 2024, Hayya has advanced from being a visitor entry platform into a connected national digital ecosystem supporting Qatar's tourism, government services and major international events.Its e-visa processing ecosystem now unifies identity verification, approvals, payments, notifications and access services within a single digital workflow, the QT said in a press statement Monday.The platform's innovation is reflected in its adoption of advanced technologies, including OCR (optical character recognition)-powered document extraction, passport parsing, ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) photo-compliance checks, and automated validation workflows, which have improved efficiency, reduced manual intervention and enhanced processing accuracy.Hayya processed nearly 850,000 applications in 2025, with an average of one e-visa processed every 35 seconds, while application correction rates were reduced to 5% over the same period."This award is a testament to Hayya's unwavering commitment to enhancing our services through innovation, technology, and user-centric solutions that deliver a seamless, hassle-free travel experience from visa application through to arrival,” said Hayya director Saeed al-Kuwari.“As we continue to evolve, we remain focused on leveraging digital transformation to deliver frictionless experiences and support Qatar's vision for a smarter, more connected future,” he said.Operated by Qatar Tourism, Hayya serves as Qatar's official e-visa platform and central digital gateway, streamlining access to the country through integrated visa processing and event services within a single, user-friendly interface.Stevie Awards are conferred in nine programmes: “The American Business Awards”, “The Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards”, “The German Stevie Awards”, “The Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards”, “The International Business Awards”, “The Stevie Awards for Great Employers”, “The Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service”, “The Stevie Awards for Women in Business”, and “The Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence”.Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 entries each year from organisations in more than 70 nations.Honouring organisations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognise outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide.

Qatar Tourism, in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior and the Permanent Committee for Managing Visitor Entry, has announced updates to the "Hayya" GCC Residents Visa (A2). The new features are designed to make travel to Qatar smoother and more convenient during a season rich in international sporting, cultural, and entertainment events.The updates, which will take effect on 30 November 2025, allows visitors from GCC countries to stay in Qatar for up to two months and offers multiple-entry access. These enhancements are designed to make it easier for visitors to attend a variety of events throughout the season and enjoy a seamless entry experience across all points of arrival.These updates come at a key moment as Qatar prepares to welcome regional visitors for the 2025 FIFA Arab Cup alongside a packed events calendar. The new visa features allow GCC residents to move in and out of the country with ease, enabling fans to attend matches and enjoy Qatar's broader cultural and entertainment offerings. Through the Hayya Platform, Qatar continues to ensure a smooth arrival experience and strong operational readiness for the tournament and other major events during peak periods.Commenting on the new updates, Director of Hayya, Saeed Al Kuwari said: "These measures go beyond simple procedural changes. They reflect Qatar Tourism's broader vision to strengthen the country's openness to the region, facilitate visitor movement during major sports and cultural events, increase arrivals, and enhance tourism's contribution to the national economy. They also reinforce Qatar's position as a leading regional destination for tourism and international events."Operated by Qatar Tourism, Hayya serves as Qatar's official e-visa digital platform. As Qatar's central digital gateway, Hayya streamlines access to the country through integrated visa processing and event access, all within a single, user-friendly interface.By making entry seamless for GCC residents, Qatar Tourism is enabling more visitors from neighbouring countries to enjoy the season's events, strengthening Qatar's global tourism profile, and supporting economic growth.Hayya offers five distinct visa categories: the Tourist Visa (A1), GCC Resident Visa (A2), Visa with ETA (A3), Companion of GCC Citizen Visa (A4), and the Visa-Free for US Citizens (F1). 

The Hayya platform has recently been recognized for its outstanding achievements in technology and innovation, securing two regional accolades. Hayya was named Winner in the Travel Technology - Business Services category at the Middle East Technology Excellence Awards 2025 and received the Best Use of Digital by Sector - Travel Industry title at the MENA Digital Awards 2025. Commenting on the achievement, Director of Hayya Saeed Al Kuwari said: "We are proud that the Hayya platform has been recognised by two distinguished regional awards for its digital innovation. This achievement reflects Hayya's evolution into a world-class platform that continues to set new standards for travel and tourism services.Our focus on integrating advanced technologies ensures visitors enjoy seamless, secure and efficient experiences, while reinforcing Qatar's position as a leading global destination. With these recent awards, we have not only delivered the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ successfully but also fulfilled our vision of establishing Hayya as a lasting legacy that supports Qatar's tourism sector. We remain committed to its ongoing evolution, ensuring the platform continues to drive innovation and excellence in line with Qatar's tourism vision." Originally designed to manage fan entry during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Hayya has since transformed into a comprehensive e-visa ecosystem, offering five distinct visa categories: the Tourist Visa (A1), GCC Resident Visa (A2), Visa with ETA (A3), Companion of GCC Citizen Visa (A4), and Visa-Free for US Citizens (F1). Hayya's continuous innovation has transformed visitor experiences through advanced B2C technologies, including Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for automated document extraction, the upcoming Arabic OCR implementation to improve accessibility for Arab nationals and NFC-based passport scanning for instant passport data entry. On the B2B front, Hayya provides secure API integration enabling real-time ticket validation and identity-linked QR codes for seamless access across stadiums, hospitality venues, and transport services. The platform has successfully supported some of Qatar's largest international events, including the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the AFC Asian Cup 2023, the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix, and the Web Summit Qatar 2024. Operated by Qatar Tourism, Hayya serves as Qatar's official e-visa digital platform. As Qatar's central digital gateway, Hayya streamlines access to the country through integrated visa processing and event access, all within a single, user-friendly interface. The platform is designed to facilitate e-visa services while integrating events, domestic tourism, transport, lifestyle experiences, and everyday services into one unified solution for living, traveling, and connecting. Beyond enabling smooth entry via airports and land borders, it encourages visitors to explore Qatar's cultural landmarks, natural attractions, and vibrant year-round events. The platform also supports major events by delivering tailored digital solutions for organisers, delegates, and attendees.

The Hayya platform, recently moved under the umbrella of Qatar Tourism, has achieved a significant milestone, surpassing 2mn successfully processed e-visa applications in the period following the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.This achievement highlights Hayya's capacity to handle large volumes efficiently and reaffirms the platform’s position as a primary tool for facilitating visitor entry to Qatar and enhancing the overall tourism experience, a statement said Wednesday.Since April 2023, the platform has processed an average of more than 60,000 applications per month until Wednesday, while the number of active users on the Hayya mobile app has reached 2.7mn to date.Commenting on the milestone, Saeed al-Kuwari, director of Hayya, said: "Following the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, we enhanced the Hayya system to accommodate and manage multiple types of visas."By implementing the right technologies and aligning them with security requirements, the system has proven highly effective, as reflected in recent statistics. These improvements have greatly supported the tourism sector by streamlining processes and elevating the overall visitor experience."The Hayya platform has consistently demonstrated its scale and efficiency. During the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, it received over 2.4mn applications and recorded a peak of 50,000 applications in a single day, with 49,155 visitor entries processed in just 24 hours.This milestone underscores Qatar’s commitment to advancing its digital infrastructure in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the National Tourism Strategy, while further reinforcing the country’s position as a leading global destination for travel and tourism.Originally designed to manage fan entry during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Hayya has since transformed into a comprehensive e-visa ecosystem, offering five distinct visa categories: the Tourist Visa (A1), GCC Resident Visa (A2), Visa with ETA (A3), Companion of GCC Citizen Visa (A4), and the Hayya Visa Waiver for US Citizens (F1).The soon-to-launch Hayya 2.0 will deliver an enhanced experience across both the web portal and mobile app. Key upgrades include a streamlined payment gateway and improved portal features, ensuring a more efficient and user-friendly journey for visitors and businesses alike.Operated by Qatar Tourism, Hayya serves as Qatar’s official e-visa digital platform. As Qatar’s central digital gateway, Hayya streamlines access to the country through integrated visa processing and event access, all within a single, user-friendly interface.The platform is designed to facilitate e-visa services while integrating events, domestic tourism, transport, lifestyle experiences, and everyday services into one unified solution for living, traveling, and connecting.Beyond enabling smooth entry via airports and land borders, Hayya encourages visitors to explore Qatar’s cultural landmarks, natural attractions, and vibrant year-round events. The platform also supports major events by delivering tailored digital solutions for organisers, delegates, and attendees.