Farhan Al Sheikh Al Sayed, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist and the President of Walking Football Federation, Asia and Qatar
Doha: FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will trigger economic growth and will have a positive impact on the country’s economy as it will attract foreign investment. Qatar proudly witnessed the launch of the World Cup on Sunday and welcomed guests from all over the world, and the participating teams during the dazzling opening ceremony.
Speaking to The Peninsula, Farhan Al Sheikh Al Sayed, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist and the President of Walking Football Federation, Asia and Qatar said, the FIFA World Cup Qatar will boost the economy and trigger the growth leading to accelerated development in the country during and after the World Cup.
The FIFA World Cup 2022 opening ceremony gave a message that though “We are a small country at the same time very powerful and visionary and sports is in the heart of the people and leadership of Qatar. This also shows that we are leaders in sports not just in football but also in all sports and the sports loving leadership has brought the World Cup to Qatar.”
“Not only Qataris but also the expatriate community, the whole of Arabia and Asia must be proud of the achievement. The way H H the Amir has shown his gratitude towards H H the Father Amir because it is a gift that H H the Father Amir has given not just for us in Qatar but also for Arabia and Asia,” he added.
Speaking about the World Cup fans and what they can experience at the fan zones Al Sayed noted that people who had some negative views when they arrived in Qatar have changed into positive opinion because most of the World Cup fans are enjoying the hospitality, environment and the high state-of-the-art infrastructure in Qatar. Starting from the airport, hotels and the infrastructure that Qatar has put in during the last ten years with hard work is paying off with the recognition and gratitude shown by the incoming fans.
He added that people in Qatar are also enjoying the benefits of meeting the international, football community and the fans arriving in Doha. It is a privilege to be a Qatari and an expatriate in Qatar to enjoy the World Cup.
Citing a study about the impact of tourism on World Cup host countries previously, Al Sayed said that in every host nation of World Cup usually the tourism grows. People who have not been to Qatar will be curious to see the country and like to invest as Doha is the sports capital of the world. This is what was witnessed in Brazil and Russia after the World Cup as people started going there as tourists.
