Economy Qatar’s private sector activity slows after World Cup boost Business activity in Qatar’s private sector cooled in January after its World Cup bounce. The first Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) survey for 2023 posted a correction to 45.7 in January, from 49.6 in December, as activity and new work slowed following the tournament, which ran from November 20 to December 18 last year. It was […] February 6, 2023
Exclusive Business of Sport Alcohol u-turn led to peaceful World Cup, says Fifa security chief Violent clashes between football fans and police, similar to those seen at the Euro 2016 tournament in France, were absent from the Qatar World Cup, and one of the reasons, according to the head of security at organiser Fifa, was the decision to reduce the consumption of alcohol. With two days to go before the […] January 28, 2023
Economy Qatar World Cup fuels spike in private sector optimism Optimism among non-oil private sector companies in Qatar has risen to a 29-month high following the impact of the Fifa World Cup on the country’s economy. Post-tournament business opportunities and an expected permanent boost to tourism were cited by companies polled in the latest purchasing managers’ index (PMI) survey data from Qatar Financial Centre. The […] January 4, 2023
Analysis World Cup 2022 Brand Qatar’s legacy once the last World Cup fan has gone home Strolling down Lusail Boulevard on a warm December evening, foreign fans who have lingered on after the World Cup to enjoy some winter sun pause to chat with local vloggers about their lasting impressions of Qatar. “Impressed” is a word they use frequently. “Hospitality” and “generosity” are mentioned often. One pedestrian describes with delight how […] December 22, 2022
Analysis Business of Sport Qatar 2022: The making of a sports nation From Formula 1 to the 2030 Asian games, Qatar’s hosting of a series of major events before and after the World Cup has reinforced its role in the global sporting diary. Having built eight stadiums for the 2022 tournament, the Gulf state now boasts an infrastructure that will make it a go-to location for many […] December 19, 2022
World Cup 2022 Dubai restaurants report tasty boost from World Cup Dubai restaurants have seen revenues rise by an average of 20 percent during the World Cup, with increased deliveries to homes and offices. “We had anticipated a 20 percent increase in business during [the World Cup] and we are more or less achieving it,” said Sanjay Vazirani, CEO of Foodlink Global Restaurants and Catering Services. […] December 16, 2022
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
Analysis World Cup 2022 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 Travel & Hospitality Morocco’s World Cup journey must be capitalised upon National football team's success can inspire wider opportunities December 13, 2022
Retail Japanese sports brand Asics kicks off Gulf expansion in Doha Japanese sports brand Asics has signed a deal with the UAE’s Apparel Group to develop branded retail stores across the Gulf. The five-year franchise agreement will see the rollout of 20 stores in Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain, with the first outlet opening in Doha Festival City Mall this week. Commenting on […] December 13, 2022
World Cup 2022 ‘Made-in-Sialkot’ Adidas ball puts Pakistan in the World Cup Even though it is a cricket-mad nation, Pakistan is playing a big part in theWorld Cup by making the balls used on the training fields in Qatar and the replicas sold to fans worldwide. Forward Sports, a multinational sports equipment company in the northeastern city of Sialkot, has been working with Adidas for almost 20 […] December 9, 2022
Analysis World Cup 2022 Flight searches to Qatar soar from South Korea and Australia Searches for travel to Qatar from nations competing in the World Cup surged in November as fans raced to reserve last-minute flights and accommodation in the tournament’s host country. Enquiries for Qatar on travel aggregator website Wego from internet users in South Korea were up 168 percent in November versus the same period of 2021, […] 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 World Cup 2022 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
Analysis World Cup 2022 Saudi and Mexico get back to business after World Cup exit The deepening relationship between Saudi Arabia and Mexico may have been tested for 90 minutes on Wednesday as the central American team prevailed 2-0 in their World Cup match in Qatar. Both teams went out of the tournament due to results elsewhere in their group, but, more importantly, the two countries are enjoying a bounce […] December 1, 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 World Cup 2022 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
Analysis World Cup 2022 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 World Cup 2022 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
