Qatar Tourism has announced that the Hayya platform has been awarded Silver in the Technical Innovation of the Year in Government Technology category at the 2026 Stevie® Awards for Technology Excellence, recognising its continued evolution as a digital platform driving AI-enabled, automated and intelligently integrated government services.
Since 2024, Hayya has advanced from a visitor entry platform into a connected national digital ecosystem supporting Qatar’s tourism, government services and major international events. Its e-visa processing ecosystem now unifies identity verification, approvals, payments, notifications and access services within a single digital workflow.
The platform’s innovation is reflected in its adoption of advanced technologies, including OCR-powered document extraction, passport parsing, ICAO photo-compliance checks and automated validation workflows, which have improved efficiency, reduced manual intervention and enhanced processing accuracy. Hayya processed nearly 850,000 applications in 2025, with an average of one e-visa processed every 35 seconds, while application correction rates were reduced to 5% over the same period.
Mr
Saeed Al Kuwari, Director of Hayya, said: “This award is a testament to Hayya’s unwavering commitment to enhancing our services through innovation, technology, and user-centric solutions that deliver a seamless, hassle-free travel experience from visa application through to arrival. As we continue to evolve, we remain focused on leveraging digital transformation to deliver frictionless experiences and support Qatar’s vision for a smarter, more connected future.”
Operated by Qatar Tourism, Hayya serves as the State of Qatar’s official e-visa platform and central digital gateway, streamlining access to the country through integrated visa processing and event services within a single, user-friendly interface.