2022 FIFA World Cup: Economic Impact on Qatar and Regional Spillovers

Selected Issues Papers, February 21, 2024

Source details

Canonical URL: 2022 FIFA World Cup: Economic Impact on Qatar and Regional Spillovers

Qatar hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup (WC) successfully and took the opportunity to further develop its non-hydrocarbon economy.
Near-term contributions to Qatar’s economy, from visitors’ spending and WC-related broadcasting revenue, of up to 1 percent of GDP was comparable to cross-country experiences.
The event generated positive regional economic spillovers as a sizeable share of spectators stayed in and commuted from neighboring GCC countries.
Longer-term contributions were significant—the large investment in general infrastructure ahead of the WC drove much of the non-hydrocarbon sector’s growth in the past decade.
The high-quality infrastructure and global visibility brought by the WC should be leveraged to further promote diversification and achieve the National Vision 2030.

Visitors’ spending and WC-related broadcasting revenue contributed up to 1 percent of GDP in the near term.
The magnitude of near-term contributions was comparable to cross-country experiences.

A sizeable share of spectators stayed in and commuted from neighboring GCC countries, generating positive regional economic spillovers.

Large investment in general infrastructure ahead of the WC drove much of the non-hydrocarbon sector’s growth in the past decade.
Policy implication: leverage high-quality infrastructure and global visibility from the WC to further promote economic diversification and achieve the National Vision 2030.

Source: 2022 FIFA World Cup: Economic Impact on Qatar and Regional Spillovers, Selected Issues Papers, February 21, 2024.