Sports hub • Chapter summary
Since the selection of Qatar in December 2010 as host country for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the Gulf state has undergone a dramatically intense change not only to prepare itself to celebrate one of the most memorable World Cups in history, but also to perpetuate the legacy of the event in order to become a hub for the sports industry.
Needless to say, the preparations for the World Cup have been a boom for the economy. Eight stadiums are at various stages of preparation and other accompanying infrastructure, such as a metro, shopping malls, airport expansion, hotels, and residences have attracted construction companies from all corners in the world. While creating rapid momentum for business, many in the country were asking a tricky question: what will the aftermath of the World Cup look like?
Although the answer is still not clear, the push of the government to develop its sports industry and become a world-class venue for international events is sending a strong message to investors and businesspeople alike. Prior to the upcoming World Cup, Qatar hosted the 1988 AFC Asian Cup, 2006 Asian Games, 2011 AFC Asian Cup, 2015 World Men’s Handball Championship, and the 2019 World Athletics Championships.
And the pipeline of sporting events after 2022 is getting busier with the addition of the 2023 FINA World Aquatics Championships, the 2023 World Judo Championships, and the 2030 Asian Games. Regarding this latest event, Jassim Rashid Al Buenain. Secretary-General of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), said: “Hosting these major international events will strengthen Qatar’s position as a sporting hub not just in Asia, but on a global level. We look forward to offering our state-of-theart facilities and know-how to the athletes of the region and wider world and to cooperating with all stakeholders to create a platform for sporting excellence.”
Most importantly, the country has also officially announced its bid to host the 2032 Summer Olympics, which would be the first to be held in the Middle East region. If successful, Qatar would guarantee its status as a permanent fixture on the sporting calendar for decades to come.
At the same time, sports-related industries continue to create a luring environment for business. Qatar has a long-standing history in the region for its media business, symbolized by Doha-based news channel Al Jazeera, and has announced the creation of Qatar Media City. Also, Aspire Zone Foundation boasts one of the world’s finest sport venues, offering a unique destination for the international sports industry. This is coupled with great transport infrastructure and connectivity, as the flagship carrier Qatar Airways connects Doha with most of the world’s major airports.
A thriving industry, sports tech is also making its way into Qatar’s business landscape. “In 2020, we have been extremely successful in bringing in 20 new startups to Qatar, and at least 90% have opened branches through QST and are continuously working here. This is huge for us; this is the beginning of putting Qatar on the map as a global sports hub,” said Heba Al Masri, Managing Director of Qatar SportsTech.