Kevin Hagen // Getty Images Airports have historically served a purely utilitarian function: to get travelers from point A to point B. More recently, however, many of these transportation hubs have positioned themselves as destinations unto themselves.
Hamad International Airport (HIA) was ranked second in the Top 10 International Airports in the World’s Best Awards 2017 survey. The World’s Best awards recognize the greatest airports, islands, cities, hotels, and cruise lines as voted by its 4.8 million travelers and has been on-going annually for 22 years. HIA comes a close second to winner, Singapore’s Changi Airport.
With the runner-up position, HIA takes the lead in the global race of best international airports, along with South Korea’s Incheon International, Hong Kong International, Zurich Airport Switzerland and Haneda, Tokyo International Airport.
Competing airports were ranked according to their ease of access, security, variety of food and beverages options, shopping experience and design. HIA ranked very high on all criteria and scooped the 2nd place based on its unique Vitality Wellbeing and Fitness Center as well as its world-class sculptural art curated in partnership with Qatar Museums.