When Qatar Airways’ newest flight touched down in Hail International Airport (HAS) on January 5, 2026, it marked more than just a scheduled arrival — it signalled a strategic milestone in regional aviation and travel connectivity. With the introduction of three weekly non‑stop flights from Doha’s Hamad International Airport (DOH) to Hail (HAS), Qatar Airways has officially added Hail as its 13th destination in Saudi Arabia, expanding travel options for both leisure and business travellers across the Middle East and beyond.
This new service is operated on the Airbus A320, aligning with the airline’s strategy to provide efficient, frequent flights on key regional corridors. As travellers from Saudi Arabia, Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia and beyond now enjoy seamless connections via Doha to a global network of more than 170 destinations, this route underscores Qatar Airways’ long‑term commitment to enhancing travel accessibility and supporting regional economic and tourism growth.
Strategic Expansion: Direct Flights from Doha to Hail
The launch of the new Doha–Hail route follows Qatar Airways’ announcement at industry forums in 2025, where airline leadership highlighted the importance of strengthening its presence across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. As part of this strategy, Qatar Airways has rolled out services to a wider range of Saudi cities, including Riyadh, Jeddah, Medina, NEOM, AlUla and The Red Sea. The addition of Hail marks the latest expansion of this regional network.
Flights operate three times a week — on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays — offering travellers reliable and direct connectivity between the capital of Qatar and the heart of northern Saudi Arabia. This schedule is intended to cater to both holidaymakers and business travellers, providing flexibility while ensuring ease of access for travel planning.
The flight details are as follows:
- DOH → HAS (Flight QR1228): Departs 14:20, arrives 16:30
- HAS → DOH (Flight QR1229): Departs 17:30, arrives 19:25
Why Hail Matters: Cultural, Historical and Tourism Potential
Hail Province sits in north‑central Saudi Arabia and has a growing reputation as a cultural and natural tourism destination. Once a vital hub along ancient trade and pilgrimage routes, the region features significant cultural heritage — including UNESCO‑listed rock art sites that reflect thousands of years of human history — dramatic desert landscapes, and rugged mountain backdrops.
For travellers seeking adventure, heritage tourism, or eco‑exploration, Hail offers experiences that are distinct from the country’s better‑known urban destinations. The city’s historical identity, rooted in traditional life and early commerce, has made it an emerging choice for international visitors looking to explore Saudi Arabia beyond the usual tourist pathways.
The launch of regular flights by Qatar Airways enhances this progress by making Hail more accessible to visitors from across continents. With easier access to Hail from networks spanning Africa, Asia, and Europe, the destination’s natural landmarks, desert parks, and cultural attractions are expected to see a rise in visitor interest.
Expanding Reach Through Doha: A Global Travel Hub
Passengers from Hail now enjoy more than just a direct link to Qatar; they gain connection opportunities to an extensive worldwide network via Hamad International Airport in Doha. Recognized repeatedly as one of the world’s finest aviation hubs — with accolades such as Best Airport in the Middle East — Hamad International offers smooth transfers to over 170 destinations across the globe.
This means that travellers from Hail and vice versa can link efficiently to flights bound for Europe, Africa, Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, and the Americas, making the route not just a regional connection but a gateway to global travel. For business executives, families, and tourists alike, this connectivity boosts travel convenience and provides a world of options beyond local journeys.
The Airline’s Performance and Saudi Network Growth
The inauguration of the new flight is part of a broader Qatar Airways expansion across the Saudi market. With the addition of Hail, the airline’s schedule now features more than 150 weekly flights to 13 cities in Saudi Arabia, reflecting pent‑up demand and strategic positioning in a market with burgeoning travel interest.
This expansion also underscores the success of initiatives like Saudi Vision 2030, which encourages foreign tourism, infrastructure investment, and cultural promotion throughout the Kingdom. The connectivity provided by Qatar Airways bolsters these ambitions by linking cultural centres like Hail to international tourists and business travellers.
Human Stories: What This Route Means for Travellers
For many residents of Hail, the new service opens practical travel options that didn’t exist just months ago. Families planning holidays, professional travellers making frequent trips, and cultural explorers eager to journey beyond their home region now have a direct, comfortable link to Doha and beyond. What used to require multiple connections can now be completed in a single flight, saving time and making travel more convenient and reliable.
Likewise, travellers from across Africa and Asia can now plan trips that include Hail as part of their itineraries, enriching their Middle Eastern experiences and discovering regions of Saudi Arabia they may not have considered previously.
Such direct connections do more than shorten distances; they enrich lives, foster new experiences, and strengthen bonds between cultures.
Conclusion: A Flight That Opens New Horizons
The start of the Qatar Airways Doha to Hail route has already begun to change how travellers think about the north‑central region of Saudi Arabia. By creating reliable weekly flights, the airline has not only connected two cities but also strengthened regional accessibility and tourism potential. Whether for heritage tourism, business ventures, or simply visiting family and friends, the new service offers unmatched convenience and opportunity.
As Hail gains recognition on the international travel map, Qatar Airways’ commitment to enhancing regional connectivity stands as a powerful example of how strategic air service expansion can support growth, unity, and exploration across borders.
The post Hail (HAS) Now Directly Connected with Doha (DOH): Qatar Airways Launches New Flights to Boost Travel and Tourism appeared first on Travel And Tour World.
