Qatar eyes $20bn economic boost from 2022 World Cup

Qatar is anticipating big returns from hosting the World Cup in 2022.

“We anticipate the contribution to the economy essentially would be around about $20 billion,” said Hassan Al-Thawadi, secretary-general of the committee for delivery and legacy, citing a “high-level study.”

That represents 11 percent of the country’s gross domestic product in 2019, Arab News reports citing Bloomberg.

But a more detailed projection is yet to be declared, he added, as the event will take place in November and December next year.

Al-Thawadi said the construction and tourism industries are expected to benefit the most from the biggest football event.

Qatar has developed massive infrastructure ahead of the cup, which could be the first widely attended sporting event since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

It is building a new metro system, an airport expansion and an entirely new city, which Bloomberg estimates to be worth $300 billion.

Source: Business Insider