Citizens of India, Russia and China will be granted tourist visas on arrival in Qatar, taking the number of countries whose nationals are eligible for this facility to 41, Qatar Airways (QA) Group chief executive Akbar al-Baker announced on Wednesday. Qatar is presently finalising agreements with the governments of the three new entrants to the coveted list to implement the new system "in weeks", he said. By early-to-mid next year, they will be able to apply online for their visa, track it and receive it within 48 hours, Al Baker said.

A new visa system will be introduced which should make it easier and quicker for tourists from these countries to visit Qatar, as the country continues its push to attract more visitors. The details of how it will work – which types of visas will be included, and the costs of them – are still being finalized and will be announced at a later date

Qatar has ambitious plans to attract up to 7 million visitors to the country by 2030.