Qatar thinks World Cup will bring $20 billion to economy

Qatar thinks World Cup will bring $20 billion to economy

Next year’s World Cup in Qatar is expected to bring in some $20 billion (nearly 17 billion euros) for the Gulf state’s economy. That equates to about 11 percent of the country’s gross domestic product in 2019. That’s according to Hassan Al Thawadi, who heads the committee responsible for preparing for the tournament, based on a detailed study.

There is a lot of criticism of Qatar as host of the World Cup and not just because of allegations of human rights violations in the construction of, for example, the stadiums. There are also fears that the matches will be poorly attended.

Fans who do come to the Gulf state will also have to abate to strict rules more than they like. In Qatar’s conservative Muslim culture, women and men in most public places wear clothes that cover their shoulders and knees. Alcohol is only served in luxury hotels.

Al Thawadi stressed that it is up to private entrepreneurs to allow clothing that violates dress codes, such as shirts and shorts, on commercial occasions. Alcohol will be available in designated areas, such as fan zones. Qatar is also exploring ways to keep more serious violations of morality and decency, such as public drunkenness by fans, out of the local justice system.

He added that the exact economic impact of the tournament will become clearer when the World Cup is over in November and December next year. Construction and the tourism sector are expected to benefit the most.

Qatar thinks World Cup will bring $20 billion to economy

Qatar wants to use the tournament to show its rapid transition from a small enclave of pearl divers to Gulf metropolis. The construction of the stadiums is only a fraction of the infrastructure expenditure in the run-up to the event. Other projects that invest a lot of money include a metro system, airport expansion and the construction of a new city. The total cost of all these construction plans is estimated by experts at $300 billion.

Despite the corona pandemic, preparations for the football tournament are on track. According to Al Thawadi, who was involved in Qatar’s World Cup bid a decade ago, the tournament is intended to accelerate many initiatives in the country. This concerns, for example, urban development and economic diversification.

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