It’s not just 32 of the best soccer teams on the planet and millions of soccer fans heading to Qatar this month.
Some of the world’s most famous entertainment stars are also on their way to the Gulf country, which has announced a wave of events and activities to offer visitors and residents more than football.
Qatar is bursting onto the global stage later this month with an estimated five billion people – more than half the Earth’s population – expected to tune in to FIFA World Cup games. With the world watching, Qatar is determined to put on a show.
In the 12 years since Qatar won the right to host the 2022 World Cup, dozens of hotels and entertainment complexes have been built. This package includes new entertainment venues, beaches, resorts, museums, and restaurants.
There are no fewer than three music festivals going on at the same time as the World Cup. Fans will enjoy acts including the Black Eyed Peas and Armin van Buuren.
More: Complete FIFA World Cup schedule 2022
Enrique Iglesias played Friday at the Doha Golf Club, the venue expected to host the Black Eyed Peas.
The Arcadia Festival, which has three prestigious stages, will attract over 100 international artists and will run from November 19 to December 19, one day after the World Cup Final.
The show features a fire-breathing 50-ton spider and a laser-heavy reactor stage set. Daydream Festival, meanwhile, is taking over the renowned Doha Golf Club, hosting electronic acts including Tiesto, Alesso, ATB, and Paul van Dyk.
Learn more about Qatar's top entertainment destinations during the @FIFAWorldCup!
— SC News (@roadto2022news) August 12, 2022
📍 The Corniche pic.twitter.com/tBeJdwdf6s
Qatar’s prestigious Museum of Islamic Art reopened to the public last month. Among the wave of new openings for visitors in 2022 was the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum.
More than 1.2 million fans are expected to go to Qatar to watch the World Cup. About 2.9 million tickets have been sold.
Apartments, hotel rooms, desert camps, villas, fan villages, and even cabins on board cruise ships are available for fans visiting Qatar. Some fans will choose to stay in the UAE, Oman, and Iran, flying on “shuttle” flights to watch football without spending the night in Qatar.
With 151,000 visitors in September alone, the country reported international arrivals that are currently at a five-year high. According to the Qatar Tourism Authority, 44 percent of international arrivals, led by Saudi Arabia, came from other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations.
Qatar 2022, the host organizers, said “Qatar will host a huge range of cultural and entertainment options for the whole family during the World Cup”.
“The nationwide festival will include more than 90 special events on the sidelines of the tournament…major events will be sports viewing areas, music festivals, cultural performances, and street performances,” it said.
The Corniche in the capital Doha has been pedestrianized since early November. The 6 km (3.7 mi) stretch of waterside street will have a “carnival atmosphere featuring roving performances, cultural activities, food and beverage stalls, and retail outlets”.
Given the numbers, Qatar is expected to deploy tens of thousands of security forces to ensure a seamless World Cup.
The host nation has signed several security cooperation agreements with several countries, including Morocco, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, Turkey, and NATO.
The air show, with the participation of the Amiri Air Force, the Saudi Falcons Team, and the British Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team took place in the West Bay and Doha Corniche .#QNA pic.twitter.com/ctkg13eArt
— Qatar News Agency (@QNAEnglish) November 5, 2022