One in four fans plan to travel from UAE to Doha

When the World Cup kicks off in Doha in November, more than a quarter of football fans in the UAE plan to travel to Qatar to see the game in person.

Another 12% plan to watch the game in a hotel, restaurant or bar, while 8% of those interested in the World Cup want to visit one A dedicated fan area for matches in the UAE.

In September, pollster YouGov asked about 1,000 people living in the UAE about their plans for the race.

The results give us an insight into the potential business boom for the tournament, which begins on November 20 when the hosts face Ecuador.

“The UAE has a huge football community, so I think over 25% wanting to play is a good percentage,” said Alan Holt, Managing Director of Expat Sport in Dubai and exclusive​​​​selling agent for the official World Cup hospitality package.

“That’s definitely reflected in our bookings to date.

“Since it launched in 2009, those numbers are more than 50 times higher than what we’ve brought to major international sporting events from here.”

The biggest demand in the UAE comes from the quarter-finals, as well as the “Follow Your Team” packages, which offer supporters discounts to watch all three group stage matches, with shuttle flights from the Emirates.

In Qatar, organizers recently announced that a dedicated fan support centre will be open at the Ali bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena from October 1 to January 23 to assist World Cup visitors.

Dubai Media City, Dubai International Financial Centre, Ibn Battuta in Jebel Ali, Jumeirah Beach Apartments, Maidan and Emirates Towers have all announced dedicated fan areas to watch games on big screens, and It is likely to be popular during the month-long event.

However, the YouGov poll shows that the majority of respondents (70%) plan to watch the game from the comfort of their home.

A similar trend was also reported in Saudi Arabia, where it received a similar number of polls. A third of those surveyed there said they planned to make the short trip across the border to watch the game live in Doha.

Mr Holt said: “We have a large number of customers who have booked for the group stage and if their team is eligible, we are asking us to reconnect with them for later stage availability.”

“We’ve started getting general inquiries from Emiratis, but our actual bookings are mostly from hardcore football fans or companies looking to entertain customers.

“I would expect the Saudi percentage to be higher simply because they are eligible and people want to support their national team.”

Dubai accommodation needs

In the UAE, real estate agents say long-term rental accommodation It has been pulled from the market during the Qatar World Cup to cater to those looking for short-term rentals.

With limited accommodation in Doha, many supporters plan to base themselves in the UAE during the game and fly in for the game.

“The Qatar World Cup has had a huge impact on property supply in the short term as many properties are pulled from the market during the tournament to cater to the people who come to the area,” said Mark Castley, Head of Luxury Properties Operations Officer.

“The accommodation has been booked for the match, so the market may drop slightly as those reserved for the World Cup will come back into the market once they are all over.

“Even without this, supply is low and that will be a factor in pricing. Demand continues to increase and will likely outstrip supply,” he said.

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Updated: 10/2/2022 3:00am