Story ID: 
Hamad International Activates Virtual Tower in Qatar
By: Amy Wilder
Caption: Region’s first certified digital tower enhances controller awareness
Word Count: 267
Searidge Technologies reported that the first large-scale digital tower system certified by aviation safety regulators in the Middle East has entered operational service at Hamad International Airport. The virtual tower (vTWR) supports the Western Taxiway and Stand Development Project, an ambitious expansion that has increased the complexity of airside operations in the western area of the airport.
According to Searidge, the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) adopted a hybrid digital-tower model to address distance and line-of-sight constraints from HIA’s main air traffic control tower. The approach enabled controllers to maintain high levels of safety, surveillance, and efficiency without constructing a secondary tower.
The vTWR operates on Chorus, Searidge’s open-airside digital platform. Ultra-high-definition, 360-degree visual coverage of the western expansion area gives controllers full situational awareness while allowing HIA to retain ownership of its operational data. The system integrates with existing airport capabilities, including ADB Safegate’s OneControl, A-SMGCS surveillance, and ATM flight data.
Four virtual tower controller positions—two in the ATC tower and two in the backup and approach training center—support both operational redundancy and training activities. The installation also uses Aimee, Searidge’s AI engine, to supply intelligent detection functions and real-time safety alerts.
Eissa Al-Meabid, head of air traffic control at QCAA’s air navigation department, said the certified deployment “marks a major milestone in our journey toward smarter, safer, and more resilient airport operations.”
Searidge CEO Moodie Cheikh added that the project sets “a new standard for airside operations in the region that drives a smart, seamless airport.”