The Hayya Platform by Qatar Tourism has won the Silver Award in the ‘Innovation in Public Administration’ category at the 2026 Stevie Awards Middle East and North Africa, recognizing its role in advancing travel, tourism, and event management through digital solutions.
The Hayya platform serves as Qatar’s official e-visa gateway and central digital portal, streamlining entry procedures by integrating visa and event services into a single interface.
The platform offers four types of entry permits: Tourist Visa, entry visa for residents of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, entry visa for those accompanying GCC citizens, and entry visa via Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). It also provides services for visitors, including updates on events and offers during their stay in Qatar.
Qatar Tourism stated that the platform has developed into a comprehensive digital system for e-visa processing, event access, and permit issuance, integrated with government systems. Its ecosystem includes a mobile app, the Hayya Portal (HMP), Accreditation and Permits System (HACS), Hayya Move, Reporting System (HRS), and Group Visa and Accreditation service (GVA), aimed at improving operational efficiency and user experience.
The platform uses technologies such as optical character recognition, artificial intelligence for image verification, and near-field communication passport scanning to streamline data entry.
Saeed Al Kuwari, Director of Hayya, said the recognition reflects the continuous evolution of the Hayya platform as a national system supporting digital transformation across the tourism sector. He said that they remain focused on developing solutions that enhance operational efficiency and provide a seamless experience for visitors and partners, contributing to the long-term growth of Qatar’s tourism sector.
Maggie Mille, President of the Stevie Awards, said that they are pleased to recognize the achievements of organizations across the Middle East and North Africa in the 2026 Stevie Awards MENA and look forward to celebrating them at the ceremony on September 11 at the InterContinental Istanbul, Turkiye.
