A new cruise port is being proposed for Doha, Qatar. Part of a project dubbed The Falcon of Doha by Architects Riccio+Maciejowski, the originators of the vision and master plan, it would create a new tourist-oriented area in the heart of Doha.
The opportunity arose when the Qatar government decided to build a new state of the art cargo port, leaving the existing infrastructure by 2016 with no clear use. “Following the guidelines set by the ministry of tourism in its 2013 national strategy, we decided to create a ‘destination within a destination,’ a welcoming stage for tourists and a state of the art cruise port”.
The cruise facilities have been designed to be able to serve as a port of call and a home-port and will undoubtedly get the attention of the major cruise lines, and could lay the foundation for a Qatar cruise line, making Doha a hub in the Persian Gulf.
The first stage of The Falcon of Doha will include the port of call capable of handling up to three mega ships, the downtown Maidan quarter, the main mosque, souk marketplace, and the first phase of the home-port.
The second stage will encompass an underground soccer/football stadium, parks, beaches, hotels, a yacht marina, residential housing, a museum and an aquarium and the second phase of the port.
And the third stage will see a convention center, beach club, waterpark, sports park, high rise waterfront residences, and more.
The total site area is 753,671 acres of which a third exists today and two thirds will be created from dredging and landfill. The total building area is estimated at 96 million square feet.
The Falcon of Doha will be highly revenue generating, including approximately 200,000 cruise passengers expected to arrive during the first year of operation.
When completed, The Falcon of Doha will be able to handle up to six mega ships at the same time and six million passengers a year.
The port will be directly linked to the new airport via an underwater tunnel that will go under the access channel.