Interrogation Of Qatar’s Construction Legacy Post-FIFA

The 2022 FIFA World Cup Triggered A Massive Construction Boom In The Country

"There was a perception of Qatar that the rest of the world had," said Alex Hanna, vice president for Qatar, Khatib, and 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 of its local talent by giving them the chance to work outside of their comfort zone.

Commenting on sustainability at its core, the report mentioned that after the World Cup, Qatar continued to prioritize sustainable development and took steps to ensure that the infrastructure built was 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 the Supreme Committee for Delivery and 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."

Consequently, reducing the country’s carbon footprint was a major priority. As such, the country has implemented a number of green initiatives, such as the installation of solar panels, and deployed stringent energy-efficient building standards to embed sustainability at the core of the construction sector.

Zarzour also noted that FIFA helped the country shift its focus to decarbonization by imposing regulations on the use of construction materials and effectively managing its construction waste.

Further commenting on the balancing demand and supply report, it said that following its heavy investment in 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's trophy lift in the Lusail Stadium.

"The reality right now is that there is an excess of hotels post-FIFA." "We need to figure out a way to create demand again," Baeuerle stated.

According to a report by the Qatar National Tourism Council, the country needed an additional 60,000 hotel rooms to accommodate the visitors during the World Cup. Now in the post-World Cup phase, concerns are growing that there is an excess supply of hotel rooms, leading to stagnant businesses and low prices.

"Qatar needs to decentralize its tourism offerings, not only to direct people back to Doha but also to give them a reason to visit other parts of the country," reasoned Baeuerle, who was speaking on the Building on Tourism: Robust Growth in Hospitality Demand panel.

According to the report, Post the World Cup, experts at the event predicted that contractors would face a number of challenges, some of which are already apparent, such as the slowdown in construction activity.

"People have seen the good and the bad, and that’s pretty much what we are hearing in the market. There is great pace in the construction, but they are also facing issues that cannot be ignored. Delayed payments, a lack of construction demand, and increased competition are there, to name a few," said Prateek Bagaria, managing partner, Singularity Legal.

Bagaria also elaborated on the reduction in demand for new construction projects, which will likely lead to a decline in revenue for contractors. This slowdown is expected to be particularly significant for smaller contractors who have relied heavily on World Cup-related projects.

The report concluded that, overall, Qatar’s construction industry post-World Cup is being characterized by high levels of investment, a growing focus on sustainability, and a commitment to improving labor standards.

While there have been some challenges and controversies surrounding the industry, such as concerns over labor exploitation and the environmental impact of the event, Qatar’s government and construction industry stakeholders have already taken steps to address these issues and are looking to create a more sustainable and responsible construction sector.