In late 2022, Doha Hamad Airport (DOH) underwent a significant expansion. Not only did this roughly double the airport’s annual capacity (from 29 million to 58 million), but it also marked the opening of The Orchard, the airport’s huge new garden feature. I finally had the chance to check this out during my recent visit…
Continue reading: The Orchard, Doha Airport’s Indoor Tropical Garden
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
"I mean, my gosh, compare this to transiting Charlotte Airport, and you’ll feel like you’re on a different planet."
Yep, Charlotte Airport was running through my head when I last flew through Doha
It's only impressive if you've never been to The Jewel Changi.
Passed by there last month and found it meh. Some trees looked rather dry & sad. Generally it looked like a cheap imitation of The Jewel.
But indeed one could spend time here if you don't have lounge access.
Is it just the pictures or is everything bathed in an eerie blue light? Seems like the Jewel picked better glass skylights.
I haven't been there in years, but there is also a large garden in Madrid's Atocha train station.
I was just there in April, and it was still there, but for some reason you couldn't walk through it while I was at the station. Still pretty though.
"How does this compare to The Jewel at Singapore Changi Airport?"
Dunno. One place repealed laws that criminalized what adult I fall in love with the other threatens to put me in prison for three years for the same act.
Also, we have to consider the slave labor issue and lack of a pluralistic society.
This is stacking up to be an odd 'family vacation' - touring airport lounges and shopping malls. Exciting for Dad, I'm sure!
Between this and the Louis Vuitton Lounge/Spa, it seems like Qatar is working hard to court the influencer crowd...
The water feature is there, but it is no surprise that you might have missed it.
Transited Doha in April (ironically to Singapore) and finally understood why "Karen Al Baker" was so upset about the "stolen Jewel". The entire C gate area must have cost quite a bit to construct.
Yet Orchard's version was more like a triangular water curtain, that surrounded one of the 3 glass/steel megastructures supporting the roof. At its base is a pond that collects the water and they placed a 360deg rotating selfie booth right in front of it.
The setup looks frankly sad and puny compared to Jewel, especially as you step off a QR flight and head straight into T1 at SIN, facing its ginormous waterfall right after the arrival hall.
For the amounts spent on building either Jewel (SIN) or Orchard (DOH), the former is definitely way more bang for the buck. No wonder Karen was bitter about it. LOL
Been through the Orchard twice this year during long layovers in Doha and it's simply lovely. Peaceful, beautifully done, you almost forget you're in an airport. Lots of room, some folks even sleep there.
Went through Doha this past weekend and it does indeed have a water feature now. They also opened Al Mourjan the Garden lounge there now that looks out over the Orchard (was told it opened 3 weeks ago). We spent most of our time in the main Al Mourjan lounge though. I didn't find out about the new one until we only had about an hour left so we only stopped in for a quick peek as it was very near our gate. Seemed very nice though. I was told it has more quiet rooms for those looking to rest.
They coincidentally also are among the safest, cleanest and have the highest living standards on the planet, not to mention a better resident happiness compared stateside. There might be some links there to the acts they frown upon.
@JW what acts which Jeffrey mentioned which they “frown upon” directly lead to more happiness and better living standards?
Didn't blow me away when I was there in April but if you are running to catch a connection there isn't much time to appreciate beauty.
Hi sir Ben, just want to ask if a non passenger can enter in The Orchard garden ?
I've transited through Doha no less than a dozen times this year. In fact, I will be transiting again in a couple of weeks. The Orchard is definitely a great place to check out while transiting. I've never been to Changi so I can't compare.
The HAMAD airport has just been named the World’s Best Airport beating Changi Airport into second place.
I was super impressed by the management at the airport. The Orchard was my main attraction.
very peaceful environment, controlled temperature and the feeling of waterfall along with birds chirping around makes it all the more beautiful. I would love to spend more and more time there while reading book and listening to music along with the soothing environment.
Bin schon öfters über Doha geflogen aber 2025 das erste mal den Garten erlebt. Es war einfach toll. Lohnt sich wenn man die Zeit hat. In Singapur ist es mir nie gelungen den Garten zu besuchen.
Nun hier geht es um den Airport. wie sehr ich auch Singapur liebe ist es trotzdem autoritär regiert. Wobei das eine freundliche Autorität ist die trotzdem Peitschen Hiebe als Bestrafung vorsieht. Und Leute was ist mit den USA unter Trump geworden? Bzw. was wird da noch für eine "Demokratie"