Qatar Airways prepares to unveil premium terminal

Qatar Airways will unveil its first premium terminal over the weekend.  Built at a cost of $90m in just nine months, the terminal at Doha International airport will feature a selection of duty-free shops for the exclusive use of Qatar Airways ' first- and business-class passengers.

The development is the world’s only dedicated terminal for premium passengers, the airline claimed. The 1,000sq m   (10,760sq ft) duty-free shops will be positioned alongside spas, jacuzzis and fine dining areas. The new facility will also include rooms where passengers can sleep while waiting for their flight. The terminal, which will be divided into two separate sections for first- and business-class passengers, will cover a total area of 10,000 sq m (107,600sq ft).

Qatar Airways hopes to open the terminal in time for the fifteenth Asian Games, which take place in Doha from December 1. The carrier is the official airline of the Asian Games.

The new development is part of a raft of improvements at Doha, where the arrivals and departures halls are being expanded to cope with the increasing number of passengers flying in and out of the airport. Another 21,000sq m (225,960sq ft) of space is being added to the existing airport terminal.