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DUBAI: Even ahead of the inaugural Middle East Soccer World Cup in Qatar on November 20, the entire Gulf region is expecting huge growth in air travel, tourism and hospitality.
An influx of 1.2 million tourists is expected to add $17 billion to Qatar’s economy during the long-awaited month-long tournament, when tourists pour into the country’s hotels to watch the biggest sporting event on the planet.
However, there is a problem. Due to Qatar’s small size, the limited number of accommodations on offer — just 30,000 hotel rooms as of March this year — has forced fans to look elsewhere in the region. The shortage is pushing up hotel prices.
Sports tourism is especially lucrative, said Sue Holt, executive director of Expat Sport, because “it tends to be a group tour rather than a solo trip.”
“Overall, hotel prices are already three to four times higher, so you can already feel the impact of the World Cup immediately,” Qatari businessman Tariq Al-Jaidah told Arab News.
Al-Jaidah’s family business, Jaidah Holdings, owns W Doha Hotel & Residences, the first W-branded hotel in the Middle East and North Africa. The group also owns and operates major luxury hotels in Europe, including the Greti Palace Hotel in Venice, the Westin Excelsior and the St. Regis Hotel in Florence.
Al-Jaidah’s brother, Ibrahim M. Jaidah, Group CEO and Chief Architect of the Arab Engineering Authority, and Ibrahim Jaidah Architects and Engineers designedAl-Thumama Stadium to accommodate 40,000 spectators for the quarter-final stage of the competition .
“There are so many milestones associated with it – being the first World Cup in the Middle East – for many, coming to watch the game is a way of life,” Al-Jaidah said.
The influx of 1.2 million tourists is expected to add $17 billion to the Qatari economy. (AFP)
“It’s a way of life for many people on this planet, and this time, it’s going to take them to an area that many people have never been to before. You can feel the area — the Gulf countries — — is coming together for this event in a natural way.”
To accommodate the hordes of football fans heading to Qatar, organizers have hired two cruise ships and plan to pitch more than 1,000 tents in the desert. A shuttle service has also been established to connect Doha with other regional cities, including Muscat, Riyadh, Jeddah and Kuwait City.
The opening of daytime flights for spectators to and from the game is expected to generate significant business for local airlines, hotels and hotel establishments, especially in nearby countries such as Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Qatar 2022 World Cup CEO Nasser Al-Khater said the 2022 World Cup represents an opportunity to drive positive and sustainable change beyond the World Cup in Qatar and the wider region. (supply)
“Saudi Arabia is advertising special flights and Oman is ready to welcome guests at maximum capacity,” Al-Jaidah said.
“The skies are open to all airlines – just between the two cities of Doha and Dubai, there will be 60 to 80 flights a day – creating a veritable air bridge, allowing people to commute easily. All in the Gulf Amazing momentum has been created between countries.”
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• An estimated 1.2 million people will visit the host country
• Qatar has 30,000 hotel rooms as of March 2022
Dubai Airports chief executive Paul Griffith recently told Bloomberg News that Dubai will be the “main gateway” for the World Cup, with the number of people entering Qatar likely to exceed its capital Doha through the emirate.
“Qatar has fairly limited hotel capacity and we can offer a lot here,” added Griffith.
In fact, the hotel industry in the UAE has seen hotel rooms sold out for months. Hotel prices in the country rose 20 percent in July, with many industry experts expecting 100 percent occupancy during the race.
Travel agencies are also profiting from the surge in demand. UAE-based company Expat Sport is advertising the “Dubai Football Fan Experience” package, which provides transportation to and from the airport.
“Internationally, we are seeing the highest demand for our Dubai football fan experience in the UK, South America, Mexico, India and China,” Expat Sport executive director Sue Holt told Arab News.
Due to Qatar’s small size, there is a limited amount of accommodation on offer – as of March this year, there were only 30,000 hotel rooms. (AFP)
“We’ve also had a lot of inquiries from Saudi Arabia looking to come to Dubai for some time in the early stages of the race and then fly on the daily shuttle to a specific race. Opening weekend is our most popular package, with almost all rooms available It’s all sold out.”
Sports tourism is especially lucrative, Holt said, because “it tends to be a group trip rather than a solo trip.”
Fan zones will be established around Dubai, including the 533-room NH Dubai The Palm, a new luxury hotel on the city’s palm-shaped island. The football-themed hotel will welcome guests willing to take a 40-minute flight to Doha.
The entire Gulf region is counting on huge growth in air travel, tourism and hospitality. (AFP)
“Hosting such a major event in the region will undoubtedly bring more football and revenue to the UAE, mainly Dubai,” Naim Maddad, CEO and founder of Gates Hotel Dubai, told Arab News.
“Multi-entry visas are now available to people who have tickets to the World Cup, which could lead to a lot of extra revenue for city hotels that are well-located (and close enough to the airport), but we’re also expecting the same for our food and beverage outlets across the city. “
It’s not just the business capital of the UAE that is expecting a massive influx of tourists and a boon for local businesses. Muscat, the capital of Oman, and the Saudi cities of Jeddah and Riyadh are also gearing up for increased foot traffic.
Both Gulf countries are hosting festivals to coincide with the competition and have outlined plans to simplify travel procedures. For example, national airline Oman Air offers special fares to football fans to Qatar. At the same time, holders of Qatar Hayya fan cards can also apply for Saudi multiple-entry visas.
The Hayya Card is a fan ID card issued by the Qatari government for fans participating in the World Cup. This document replaces the usual entry visa, but is only valid during the competition.
Saudi Arabian tour operators such as Travel-it are also promoting special itineraries for football fans keen to explore the wider region during matches.
“Travel-It aims to support Saudi Arabia’s tourism industry by offering fans who will be attending the World Cup in Qatar this winter the opportunity to take advantage of the company’s itinerary,” a company spokesperson told Arab News.
Travel-It is an online travel and tourism platform that provides air and road shuttle services between Saudi Arabia and Qatar, as well as travel to Al-Ahsa Oasis in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia and elsewhere.
Tour operators in Saudi Arabia, such as Travel-it, are also promoting special itineraries for football fans keen to explore the wider region during matches. (AFP)
“This will allow them to explore nearby tourist attractions in Saudi Arabia and immerse themselves in the rich local culture,” the spokesman said. “Additionally, Qatar’s proximity to Saudi Arabia means fans will be able to expand their journeys to include destinations from both countries.”
The World Cup offers the entire region a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make itself a must-visit.
“It is important that the competition will raise the profile of the Middle East and the Gulf,” Al-Jaidah said. “A lot of tourists have never been to the area. Maybe it’s not on their radar, but this event will bring them together.
“The World Cup will increase the appeal of the region and show the world how we have done it after Expo 2020 Dubai and the World Cup in Doha, the sky is the limit here. We are ready for what comes next.”
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