Analysis World Cup 2022 Qatar 2022 more about long-term legacy than short-term gains Once the last ball has been kicked, the final whistle blown and the gold trophy held aloft in Lusail Stadium on December 18, the world’s attention will move on from Qatar. But the tournament’s economic legacy will take longer to emerge. The history of World Cups and Olympic Games is littered with unmet promises and […] December 16, 2022
Business of Sport Dubai’s Emirates renews sponsorship deal with AC Milan Dubai-based Emirates has renewed its sponsorship deal with AC Milan, extending a partnership with the Italian football club that has spanned over 15 years. The airline’s “Fly Better” logo will continue to feature on the club’s jerseys, Emirates said in a statement. In addition, the airline’s branding will appear on youth jerseys across all AC […] December 16, 2022
Analysis Aviation Private jet demand to Doha soars despite World Cup price hikes Private jet operators have reported a massive surge in demand for flights to Doha during the World Cup, despite the rise in operating costs caused by the high number of aircraft flying in and out of the Qatari capital. “So far, the World Cup has been an incredibly exciting — albeit intensely busy time — […] December 14, 2022
Opinion Tourism Morocco’s World Cup journey must be capitalised upon National football team's success can inspire wider opportunities December 13, 2022
Business of Sport LaLiga nets esports deal as Spain’s football league heads Mena’s way Spain’s main football league, LaLiga, has signed a 15-year deal with Galaxy Racer, one of the world’s largest largest esports, gaming and lifestyle organisations, that they estimate will generate more than $3.16 billion. The home of Barcelona and Real Madrid say they expect the tie-up with the Dubai-based company to transform the league’s presence in […] December 11, 2022
Business of Sport Qatar-owned football club PSG eyes sale of minority stake Qatar-owned football club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) is looking to sell a minority stake, chairman and CEO Nasser Al-Khelaifi told CNN. “I think it’s great for the club, and it is proved that we are doing a fantastic job in the club. I mean, we bought it for around 70 million… so is it [a] good investment?” […] December 7, 2022
Analysis World Cup 2022 World Cup has instant impact on Qatari retail and tourism The World Cup has had an immediate impact on private sector activity in Qatar, according to new figures. The Fifa tournament began on November 20 and the latest Purchasing Managers’ Index report, from Qatar Financial Centre, says the country’s wholesale, retail and service providers reported a rapid expansion in the second half of the month. […] December 5, 2022
Analysis Business of Sport How Qatar is handling the world’s football fans More than one million people are expected to visit Qatar during the World Cup and the authorities are hoping that is the start of a new tourism boom. The opportunity for a country to present itself to a global audience of billions does not come around often. As host of the tournament, Qatar certainly finds […] December 4, 2022
Business of Sport Messi takes on Ronaldo in ‘cryptoverse’ World Cup 2022 The market for fan tokens, a volatile cocktail of crypto and sport, is heating up in the desert of Qatar. Interest in this niche breed of cryptocurrencies, typically linked to sports teams like Barcelona or Brazil, has been charged up by the soccer World Cup which began on November 20. Average daily trading volumes for […] November 29, 2022
Analysis Business of Sport Gulf states to capitalise on World Cup tourism ‘halo’ effect Qatar’s Gulf neighbours have more than a passing interest in the World Cup. When the tournament ends Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Oman will be looking to capture the ripple effect resulting from the surge in tourists to the region. For the GCC’s tourism sectors, the World Cup is viewed as a catalyst for a […] November 26, 2022
Opinion Business of Sport The World Cup could be the next staging post for Qatar’s economy As the World Cup unfolds over the next month, it will be interesting to see how Qatar makes the most of its moment in the global spotlight November 24, 2022
Business of Sport Manchester United owners mull selling Premier League icon Manchester United’s US owners have begun looking at options for the 20-times English soccer champions, including a potential sale or new investment in stadium and infrastructure redevelopment. “As we seek to continue building on the club’s history of success, the board has authorised a thorough evaluation of strategic alternatives,” said Avram and Joel Glazer in […] November 24, 2022
Analysis Business of Sport Saudi’s World Cup shock is ‘major step’ for Vision 2030 investment Saudi Arabia’s shock victory over Argentina in the FIFA World Cup in Qatar is proof that the country’s Vision 2030 strategy is working and will encourage leaders to continue to make huge investments in the sports sector, according to experts. The Ministry of Sport and Ministry of Tourism have set an ambitious target for sports […] November 23, 2022
Analysis Business of Sport Qatar scores, with vital assists from Iran, Turkey and the UAE Alongside the massive investment and the 12 years of preparation, Qatar has called in more than a few favours to aid the smooth running of the World Cup. While its allies have proved keen to help, Doha has had to tiptoe carefully around the geopolitical faultlines that run through the Gulf. Turkey has sent more […] November 21, 2022
World Cup 2022 Uefa welcomes Fifa pledge to tackle Qatar labour issues A group of 11 European football associations welcomed promises from Fifa of support for migrant labourers in Qatar and the creation of a legacy fund from 2022 World Cup proceeds. The Uefa Working Group on Human and Labour Rights, made up of representatives from the football associations of Belgium, Denmark, England, Finland, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, […] November 21, 2022
Business of Sport Fans enjoy Qatar World Cup from a distance at Dubai festival Soccer fans in Dubai were jubilant on Sunday as they watched the opening match of the 2022 World Cup in neighbouring Qatar at a fan festival in the region’s commercial hub. The BudX FIFA Fan Festival in Dubai featured big screens, beer and other drinks on an artificial island off the city’s buzzing Marina district, […] November 21, 2022
Analysis Business of Sport Nine ways the World Cup will transform Qatar Qatari strategists conceived the World Cup as a catalyser for long-term development ambitions. Across a range of economic sectors, the government has sought to embed the transitory impact of the tournament with longer-lasting side-benefits. None are more evident than in the tourism sector. As Berthold Trenkel, chief operating officer of Qatar Tourism, told AGBI: “The […] November 21, 2022
Business of Sport Budweiser campaign curbed, not crashed, by Qatar beer ban A last-minute decision to ban the sale of alcohol at Qatar’s World Cup stadiums will seriously limit Budweiser sales in the Gulf state, but will not derail its owner’s global campaign during the tournament, industry analysts said. Soccer world governing body FIFA’s announcement of the ban on Friday, just two days before the event kicks […] November 20, 2022
Long read Business of Sport World Cup puts focus on Gulf’s business of sport and reputation On Sunday evening, Qatar will take on Ecuador in the opening game of the 2022 World Cup – and the eyes of the world will turn to the Gulf for four weeks. The final on December 18 is due to be watched by 80,000 fans in the Lusail stadium and a television audience that could […] November 20, 2022
Opinion Business of Sport This is a World Cup for the entire Middle East While the focus will be on host nation Qatar, Dubai will do particularly well out of the World Cup and the entire region will benefit November 19, 2022
Analysis World Cup 2022 Shops on target: Qatar retailers set for $1.2bn World Cup windfall Qatar’s retailers are tipped to be big winners at the 2022 World Cup. New forecasts for the tournament’s impact, compiled by Fitch Solutions, suggest that the sector can expect a $1.2 billion windfall in the fourth quarter. Fitch is predicting that the Fifa competition will drive a sharp rise in Qatar’s GDP growth from 1.5 […] November 19, 2022
Analysis World Cup 2022 All eyes on Doha as World Cup finally comes to town Late autumn is typically a busy time in the Doha social calendar, as temperatures fall in Qatar and locals and wealthier expats return from cooler climes. This year the atmosphere is different. In one respect, the city has never been busier, as an army of labourers puts the finishing touches to the stadiums, hotels, malls, […] November 18, 2022
