Sleeping in Doha Airport

If you’re dealing with a long layover or an early morning flight departure at Doha airport, you might be wondering if it is possible to sleep in the airport. Our guide to sleeping in Doha airport provides essential information for seasoned airport sleepers and newbies to help travellers arrive prepared for the experience.

We keep this guide up-to-date with the help of airport sleepers who have generously shared their experiences and airport reviews. If you have any tips or photos to contribute, please take a moment to write a review. Your feedback will help us stay informed about the latest advice for future sleepy travellers.

Sleeping in Doha Airport

Locations & Seating

There’s plenty of seating, though most are fitted with armrests. Some Quiet Rooms have semi-reclined seats intended for sleeping, as long as you can fall asleep on your back. A few travellers tried lying on the carpet for some shuteye. Some were told it was not allowed, but others had no issues with staff.

Here are good spots that travellers recommend for sleeping:

Quiet Rooms in Concourses A, B, and C offer lounge chairs – see Rest Zones below for more info.
Level 0 in Concourse C, downstairs from Gates C20-C29, has little foot traffic and some privacy – sleep in the chairs or on the carpeted floor.
The children’s play areas are soft and generally quiet at night.
The Family and TV areas at Concourses A, B, and C have a few couches.

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Rest Zones

Doha Airport Quiet Room — (Photo courtesy of a Guest traveller / 13Jun2015)

Doha Airport offers designated Quiet Rooms, separated by gender, where tired travellers can relax and enjoy some stress-free time before their flight. There are semi-reclined lounge chairs here, but they’re not everyone’s idea of comfortable sleeping. Many people congregate in these areas, so they’re often more like not-so-Quiet Rooms, meaning earplugs might be helpful. Locations can be found throughout the airport.

Hotels

Prefer some privacy and comfort? If you would like a good, solid sleep between flights without the stress of going through security, a few in-transit sleep options are available. The Sleep n’ Fly Lounge offers sleep cabins that accommodate 1-2 people seeking short-term sleep. Cabins are available hourly with a 2-hour minimum. For a traditional room, the Oryx Airport Hotel is located airside, just 2 minutes from Immigration and 5 minutes walking from Gates A10 and B10. Day rooms are available, with a 5-hour minimum stay. See the hotel section in our Airport Guide for locations, or visit Tripadvisor to find hotel deals at Doha Airport.

Lounges

While Doha Airport has a few lounges, none have sleep rooms or rest areas. If you only want to relax in a comfortable seat for a few hours before your flight, check out this list of lounges in our Doha Airport Guide that you can pay to access.

Airport Conditions

If you plan to spend the night at the airport, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Temperature – Many travellers have reported frigid temperatures, particularly overnight. Arrive prepared with a blanket or even a sleeping bag. A hoodie provides extra warmth if the terminal gets even colder.
Lighting – Several reviewers have pointed out that bright lights stay on around the clock. Arrive prepared with eyeshades or something else to cover your eyes, such as a shirt or towel.
Noise – The airport is busy with travellers at all hours, so noise is common, even at night. Come prepared with earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones.

Food & Drink

When you get the midnight munchies or give up trying to sleep and need a coffee to stay awake, 24-hour food concessions are available, though we cannot confirm their locations.

Showers

Freshen up (and loosen those stiff muscles) with a shower before your flight. Location: Vitality Wellbeing & Fitness Centre inside the Oryx Airport Hotel. Some pay-to-use lounges offer show facilities, too. Check out this list of lounges in our Doha Airport Guide.

Security & Safety

At the time of this update, we have no reports from travellers commenting on safety issues at Doha Airport. However, sleeping in any airport can include a certain level of risk, especially when travelling alone. It’s important to take certain precautions to ensure your safety and the security of your valuables. Here are a few tips:

Safety First. It’s a good idea to know where the security office is located and look for video cameras where you plan to sleep. You can also ask the security personnel for advice on the safest places to spend the night.
Don’t Seclude Yourself. If you’re travelling alone, we recommend you stay near other travellers or close to security. This will help you feel more secure and deter potential thieves.
Hide Your Valuables. It’s also important to hide your valuables. Don’t leave them out in plain view, as this could make you a target for theft. Additionally, if you are a deep sleeper, you may want to padlock your bag to something or sleep with your bag up against a wall to make it harder for someone to access zippers and pockets. We have received reports of sleepers who woke up without their phones and laptop bags. The travellers were left with just their headphones and laptop bag strap.
Stay Alert. It’s best to stay alert and awake if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable. Drink coffee or other caffeinated beverages to help you stay awake, and remember that you can always catch up on sleep during your flight. These simple precautions can help you enjoy a safe night at the airport.

Pro-tip: If you sleep in the public zone, don’t be surprised if you receive an early morning wake-up call. Security is known to make the rounds, waking people up as travellers arrive for morning flights.