Thousands of football fans will be heading to Dubai for the FIFA World Cup in 2022. The region will welcome tens of thousands of fans from around the world to cheer on their team during the tournament. They will be able to watch the matches live in cinemas and restaurants, as well as in the many beach clubs. Some fans have even taken out special packages to watch the games from their own superyachts.
In the last two years, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar have been at odds over a regional blockade. This has led to an influx of visitors to the Gulf nations, with the number of visitors spending two nights in Qatar in another Gulf country increasing sixteenfold. This is attributed to the shortage of hotel accommodation in Qatar. However, FIFA has booked 80% of the rooms that are available in the area. Several World Cup guests are expected to shuttle between Dubai and Doha.
FIFA has also announced that it will be releasing rooms that it does not need. This is expected to help boost air travel across the Gulf. The UAE has especially strong demand for World Cup flights. Several private jet companies have already seen an increase in bookings for day trips to Qatar for the World Cup.
Dubai is home to more than 140,000 hotel rooms. There are 25,000 rental apartments available. It also has a full-fledged airport, with 120 match day shuttle flights running from Dubai World Central every day from November 20 to December 19. Qatar Airways and flydubai will operate 54 flights per day between Dubai and Qatar.
Qatar is one of the richest per-capita nations in the world, with offshore natural gas fields. It is located on a thumb-shaped peninsula in the Persian Gulf. Qatar is a major military base for U.S. troops, and has become a trusted interlocutor with the Taliban. It has also raised its international profile with the development of offshore natural gas fields.
There are a number of hotels and fan zones in Dubai, but there is only one hotel in the city dedicated for soccer fans. The Palazzo Versace hotel in Dubai has 215 rooms. Other hotels include the Emirates Palace, Jumeirah Emirates Towers, and the Burj Khalifa. Some fans have even paid up to $20k a night to watch the World Cup in luxury.
While fans from around the world will visit other Gulf nations, the UAE stands to gain if its fans stay in Dubai. The city has many hotels and fan zones, including the Dubai Media City Amphitheatre and Barasti Beach. There are also a number of special packages available, including shuttle flights and transport to fan zones. Moreover, hotels are livestreaming the matches from Doha, and restaurants will have their own streaming stations to show the action.
Several fan zones have been announced, including those at beaches, parks, and even the financial centre. The most popular fan zones include Barasti Beach, Zero Gravity, and Dubai Media City.
