Doha’s Hamad International Airport (DOH) is one of the best airports in the world. That’s especially true with the recent expansion, which included The Orchard, the airport’s new indoor tropical garden.
Probably the single most recognizable feature of Doha Hamad Airport is the huge teddy bear in the middle of the departures hall. I’ll take it a step further — I think it might just be one of the single most photographed things at any airport anywhere in the world.
In this post I wanted to briefly talk about that teddy bear, since it’s something that many people probably see, but don’t know anything about.
In this post:
The backstory of Doha Airport’s teddy bear
The big yellow teddy bear at Doha Hamad Airport is known as “Untitled (Lamp/Bear),” and it was designed by Swiss contemporary artist Urs Fischer. The teddy bear is 23 feet tall and weighs 35,000 pounds, as it’s sculpted from bronze. You really can’t miss this if you’re passing through the airport, since it’s in the middle of the terminal, where all the different concourses connect.
How exactly did this teddy bear, which was created in 2005, end up in the middle of the departures hall at Hamad Airport? Well, the story is that a member of the Qatar royal family purchased this in 2011 at an auction at Christie’s New York, for the sum of $6.8 million.
There are only so many places you can display something of this size, so when the country’s new airport opened in 2014, that’s where it was placed. I suppose this is a great way to show it off, given the number of global travelers passing through the airport.
Only three of these sculptures were ever created, with the other two being privately owned. If the sculpture looks familiar, a blue version of the bear (known as “Blueno”) was on display at Brown University from 2016 to 2020, so maybe some people have seen that.
Is the bear playful or kind of creepy?
There’s no denying that Doha Hamad Airport’s teddy bear is the center of attention in this part of the terminal. What’s interesting is the different takes that people have on it, though I guess that’s the beauty of art — people can have different interpretations.
The teddy bear is described as “a playful piece that humanizes the space around it and reminds travelers of childhood or precious objects from home.” Furthermore, the teddy bear is described as “sitting peacefully inside a lamp.”
The most common observation I hear from travelers about the bear is that it’s kind of creepy. The teddy bear is crouched over, and has a lamp going through its back. It almost looks like the teddy bear is being interrogated under a light.
So while that’s how some people interpret it, that’s not the intent… apparently.
Bottom line
Doha Hamad Airport has an instantly recognizable teddy bear, which so many travelers try to snap pictures with. There’s an interesting backstory to the bear, so I figured it was time to dedicate a post to it, given how many times I’ve mentioned it in passing.
What’s your take on the teddy bear at Doha Hamad Airport?
There's no back story JUST SOME RICH ARAB BROUGHT IN AN AUCTION AND DIDNT KNOW WHERE TO PUT IT
INSTEAD
BUILT A MEMORIAL FOR THE PEOPLE WHO DIED TRYING TO BUILD THE AIRPORT AND GET LOW WAGES AND OVER EXPLOITED
It’s weird but still nice to see as your passing through
I like the giant gold teddy bear in DOH. It’s a great place for it. I think it adds a friendly, calming effect to the travel experience that is definitely necessary for an airport terminal. A typical theme of the flying experience (for most people) is very hectic with tons of people moving around all over the place trying to get to where they need to go. Think rude customer service, rude security, bad passengers...
I like the giant gold teddy bear in DOH. It’s a great place for it. I think it adds a friendly, calming effect to the travel experience that is definitely necessary for an airport terminal. A typical theme of the flying experience (for most people) is very hectic with tons of people moving around all over the place trying to get to where they need to go. Think rude customer service, rude security, bad passengers (e.g. babies crying), language barriers, etc. Many non-AvGeeks wouldn’t want to have to go through that experience to travel far if they didn’t need to. And many airport terminals are these utility focused white, gray, and black boxes (with more glass as terminals get newer) that I wouldn’t exactly consider “inviting” or “friendly” enough. The cute bear provides this calming effect that helps break up the monotony of the pre-renovation terminal at DOH. It has a similar effect to the nature gardens and fountains in DOH itself, SIN, and ICN.
Kind of old and just weird looking at this point. There can be much better use of the space, but that is most likely up to someone who can spend 6.8mil on a teddy bear.
PedoBear.
I just don't understand why the lamp cuts through its head like that rather than sitting above it. It would be a lot less creepy that way.
Incredible Qatar..Being an expat from last five years,I can say with pride that I am a part of the best country in the World,its excellence in Culture, Religion, Hospitality, Transport, Safety, Economy,Sports,Tourism etc etc and many more ,are at par with the World standards ,just to mention peacefully and successfully hosting the FIFA World Cup,one of a golden feather in its cap..Proud of its leader the versatile Amir His Highness Shaikh Tamim bin Hamad Al...
Incredible Qatar..Being an expat from last five years,I can say with pride that I am a part of the best country in the World,its excellence in Culture, Religion, Hospitality, Transport, Safety, Economy,Sports,Tourism etc etc and many more ,are at par with the World standards ,just to mention peacefully and successfully hosting the FIFA World Cup,one of a golden feather in its cap..Proud of its leader the versatile Amir His Highness Shaikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani..May Almighty Allah swt grace our Amir ,all the people of Qatar,both citizens and expats,more happiness good health and prosperity..Aameen
Huh?
Ben, you've stumbled upon a topic worthy of its own post - 'most photographed/interesting thing at an airport'.
Along with the slightly creepy Doha Airport Teddy Bear, I could add the mythical 'Churning of the Milk' sculptures at Suvarnabhumi Airport and the Jewel at Changi. I know there's plenty more...
Not a pleasant sight.Weird & creepy.Not in keeping with a modern airport.Thank goodness it's not interactive!
The bear looks like he's about to get the electric chair...
My description is bear being interrogated
Walked right past that odd thing on my way to that huge lounge/restaurant upstairs recently.
The huge yellow bear with the lamp in it is a good conversation starter, meeting up place and an icon to help navigate the airport. Clever. Creepy, slightly. But I think that is the point.
every time you pass through or think of DOH, you always get reminded of the bear. and as mentioned by the other readers here, it's something that almost everyone takes pictures with.
a good investment indeed!
One of the best airports in the world? I would argue that as an economy passenger it is a dreadful airport. It gets very crowded and there is a distinct lack of seating! Certainly not my choice of transit airport.
@ Traveller -- Have you been since the expansion? And I'm curious what you think the best airport would otherwise be (aside from Singapore Changi, which I also rank very highly)? Yes, admittedly the airport gets very busy during peak periods, but that's a pretty common issue with so many airports nowadays.
@ Ben - Thanks for the reply! Not since the expansion.
I’m not knocking anyone who thinks otherwise but if you don’t have lounge access it’s not the most pleasant given the lack of seating. Even at the old Istanbul airport I could find a seat at peak times and that was an overcrowded airport.
I don't fly business class, just economy so it’s interesting how our perspectives on the same airport can...
@ Ben - Thanks for the reply! Not since the expansion.
I’m not knocking anyone who thinks otherwise but if you don’t have lounge access it’s not the most pleasant given the lack of seating. Even at the old Istanbul airport I could find a seat at peak times and that was an overcrowded airport.
I don't fly business class, just economy so it’s interesting how our perspectives on the same airport can differ.
I’m sure with lounge access my opinion on the airport would be different but for economy passengers I felt like it lacked the basics which for me trumps a modern building or art installation.
The same is somewhat true for airlines that I believe provide a good economy class which doesn’t necessarily line up with your list of airlines with the best business class.
Again, I’m not knocking you or anyone else just sharing my opinion.
@ Traveller -- Before the expansion I would have totally agreed, but honestly, I think you might be pleasantly surprised by the airport after the expansion. There's a LOT more space, and also plenty of additional places to sit.
Playful. I've been flying QR since it started with the old airport at DOH. I have no issues with the teddy bear. Of course, I prefer Snoopy and Woodstock at MSP. I also prefer the cat at CDG Halle L.
I don't know, I've passed through Doha several times as an economy passenger with no lounge access and it's been..... fine.
I have no strong feelings/memories either way. I can't really remember what I did. Normally the connections were pretty short, so just go through security, maybe pop my head into a few shops and then head to the gate to wait for boarding.
Seemed no worse (and admittedly no better) than any other major transfer hub airport.
I'm sure it's now worth a lot more than 6.8m now that it is an iconic figure. I'm guessing that was the intent of the royal family member in placing it in the airport.
No!!
My own guess is that when the buyer realized it wouldn't fit on his knickknack shelf at home, he palmed it off onto the airport. But at least it's not DEN's demon horse.
Every time I pass through DOH I take pictures of this bear. The bear is cute and not creepy at all. Money well spent.