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Up to 1.2 million fans are coming to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The nearby Dubai is likely to benefit as well. For instance, many fans have already declared that they would be taking 45-minute flights from Dubai to matches in Qatar, while staying in this affluent emirate that boasts staggering skyscrapers and pristine clean beaches with extensive amenities.
Airlines, bars, restaurants, shopping malls, and other Dubai attractions are counting on considerable profits, which will let the emirate’s tourism industry to completely recover after the coronavirus pandemic in the fall and winter months important for the season.
Dubai also attracts tourists from Western countries with its relatively liberal standards of nightlife and alcohol consumption and great safety. The incredible boom in the real estate market enabled the emirate to turn from a small pearl divers’ village into a global hub with the world’s tallest skyscrapers, gigantic shopping malls (including the Mall of the Emirates with an artificial skiing slope), and vibrant nightclubs over the past 20 years.
A huge number of soccer teams, workers, volunteers, and fans are coming to the World Cup in Qatar. 45,000 hotel rooms in the country will be assigned for this event, but it will not be enough for everyone, even taking into account the tent camps, temporary structures, and cruise ships that will also provide accommodation. Meanwhile, Dubai’s hotel stock exceeds 140,000 rooms. It will be easier for the newcomers to find a housing option that meets their tastes and budget.
The lowcoster FlyDubai is planning to do up to 30 return flights a day between the Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai and the Doha International Airport in the capital of Qatar.
The expected economic upturn due to the FIFA World Cup will give Dubai another impetus for development after the World Expo 2020, which cost the government several billion dirhams.