Road-trip to Qatar 

November, 2022

We traveled to Qatar, via Saudi (KSA), from 24 till 26 November to visit FIFA World Cup 2022. We attended a football match of the Dutch team in the group stage (Khalifa Stadium). 

Travel itinerary 

Day 1: Dubai - Border KSA Al Ghuwaifat / Al Batha). 

Total km: 450

Day 2: Border KSA - Abu Samra (border Qatar): 150 km 

From here by shuttlebus to Doha: 120 km

Day 3: Traveled the same way back

Completed road trip to Qatar (single way): approx. 720 km

For traveling to Saudi Arabia, you need to apply for a e-visa. 

Roadtrip from Dubai to Qatar

We had managed to secure tickets for the match against Ecuador, and that was the moment we decided to turn the whole trip into a road adventure from Dubai. Instead of flying, we thought it would be much more fun to drive all the way to Qatar and make a small journey out of it.

Border crossing Saudi Arabia

Before leaving, we arranged an e-visa for Saudi Arabia so we could cross the border between Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia without any complications. It took us around 5,5 hours driving to get to the borden. The border crossing itself went fairly smoothly, and after a long day of driving through the desert landscapes, we reached, after approximately 30 minutes of driving, our first stop just across the Saudi border.

We had booked a hotel for the night there. Don’t expect luxury here—the hotel was very basic, with minimal facilities and simple rooms. It served its purpose for a few hours of sleep, but that was about it. In fact, we were quite happy to get back on the road early the next morning and continue our journey toward Qatar.

Border crossing Qatar

From our hotel it was about a two-hour drive to the Qatar border at Abu Samra. With a short break along the way, the journey took us roughly three hours in total. Once we arrived at the border, we had to park our car there because of the World Cup arrangements.

We didn’t need a separate visa, as it was already arranged together with our World Cup ticket through the Hayya Card. From that point onward, private vehicles were not allowed to continue into Qatar.

Fortunately, everything was very well organized. Our match tickets included transportation by bus from the border to Doha, so after parking the car we simply joined the queue for the shuttle buses. Within a short time we were on our way again.

The bus ride itself was already part of the experience. Supporters from all kinds of countries were on board—many dressed in their national colors, chatting, laughing and taking photos. Despite everyone supporting different teams, the atmosphere was incredibly friendly and relaxed. It really felt like the start of a special football day. Within one hour and a half, we arrived at Doha. 

Villaggio Mall

We had some time to spare before the match, so we decided to take the metro toward Khalifa International Stadium. Just nearby was the Villaggio Mall, where we stopped for lunch and hung out with football fans from all over the world. The atmosphere was lively and cheerful, with people sharing their excitement for the upcoming game. It was a really fun and social way to pass the time before heading into the stadium.

Many people wanted to take photos with our children—or with us as a family—which led to some truly hilarious scenes. The kids were sometimes shy, sometimes playful, while fans excitedly posed, joked, and laughed with us, creating a fun and unforgettable pre-match atmosphere.

Oranje bus

After lunch, we walked to the gathering point where all the Dutch fans had assembled and where the 'Oranje Bus' arrived. 

Together, we followed the bus toward the stadium, singing, celebrating, and cheering along to Dutch crowd favorites. The energy was incredible—it truly felt like one big moving party!

The match

We attended a group-stage football match of the Dutch national team at the Khalifa International Stadium, and it was truly an unforgettable experience.It was an exciting match against Ecuador, and it ended in a 1-1 draw. The game was full of intense moments, cheers, and nail-biting action, keeping everyone on the edge of their seats until the final whistle. It was definitely party time in Doha—an  unforgettable Journey!