UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, H.E. SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN ABDULRAHMAN BIN JASSIM AL THANI
UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, H.E. SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN ABDULRAHMAN BIN JASSIM AL THANI
Qatar’s construction industry has undergone significant transformation post-FIFA. The 2022 FIFA World Cup triggered a massive construction boom in the country as it aimed to build the infrastructure necessary to host the world’s biggest sporting event. As the pressure mounted, the construction industry was in the spotlight as it rapidly became one of the most important sectors in Qatar.
“There was a perception of Qatar that the rest of the world had,” said Alex Hanna, vice president, Qatar, Khatib & Alami. “People thought that a high volume of infrastructure was built solely because of the World Cup, and although this is partially true, the reality is that there was a long-standing plan by the government to have this kind of infrastructure way ahead of the FIFA World Cup.”
Speaking exclusively to Construction Week Middle East on stage at the Leaders of Construction Qatar event, Hanna pointed out that implementing a series of ambitious projects allowed the country to ‘test its limits in construction’, which has led to the growth its local talent by giving them the chance to work outside of their comfort zone.
After the World Cup, Qatar has continued to prioritise sustainable development and has taken steps to ensure that the infrastructure built is being used and maintained for the long term.
“We promised the world a sustainable, inclusive World Cup, and that’s what we delivered,” said Othman Zarzour, executive director of, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy. “Sustainability is important for a small nation like Qatar – we didn’t want to build a whole city just to pollute everything in the end.”
Martin Baeuerle, operations manager at Cundall added to this, saying: “I think the main priority right now in terms of sustainability is how we can bring the FIFA assets up to speed with the overall sustainability criteria. What can be done to ensure buildings are running efficiently? Do we need to refurbish and retrofit them to be utilised better?”
Additionally, the stadiums are being repurposed for other uses. For instance, the Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, which was designed to resemble a traditional dhow boat, will become the home of the Al Wakrah Sports Club, while the Ras Abu Aboud Stadium, which was designed to be dismantled after the World Cup, will have its materials repurposed for other construction projects in Qatar.
Following its heavy investment into building the new stadiums, hotels, transportation systems, and other necessary infrastructure for the World Cup, Qatar has become an attractive investment destination for a large number of domestic and international investors. However, experts are now taking note of the imbalance created between supply and demand following Lionel Messi lifting the trophy in the Lusail Stadium.
Source Credits (Full Article): Construction Week
