Doha, August 03 (QNA) - Qatar Tourism (QT) 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, QT said in a press statement today.

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 percent over the same period.

Director of Hayya, Saeed Al Kuwari 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.

Stevie Awards are conferred in nine programs: The American Business Awards, the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business and the Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 70 nations.

Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. (QNA)