Qatar’s World Cup strategy includes continued infrastructure development, which will not only enable visitors and residents to enjoy the tournament, but will provide the foundation for future growth and national development.
Qatar has pledged to spend as much as $70 billion to build and expand a world-class infrastructure network. Although much of Qatar’s road network was built during the past 10 years, the government has committed $20 billion to expanding the network until 2016. These commitments include major new roads connecting the New Doha International Airport to all cities in Qatar, and also the new motorway to neighboring Bahrain by 2015.
Air transport capacity is also set to dramatically increase when New Doha International Airport opens and replaces the current international airport in 2012. With two new runways expanding capacity for handling both passenger arrivals (from 15 million passengers per year, to 50 million), and freight traffic (from 360,000 tons, to 2 million), Qatar will be in the position to accommodate the influx of air passengers which can be as high as 60,000 to 80,000 in the ten hours before and after matches.
For the first time, Qatar is also developing a world-class rail network after Qatar Railways Company (RAIL) and Deutsche Bahn signed a $26 billion agreement in 2009. The agreement set out a joint venture to construct an environmentally friendly and attractive metro network in Doha, with four lines connecting 98 stations across 300 kilometres. Depending on the need, the lines will run through tunnels, at ground level and as an overhead railway, and will connect major locations such as New Doha Airport, the Lusail City urban development area, Education City and West Bay.
The agreement also set out plans for a long-distance network that will provide mobility for passengers and freight, with links to neighboring countries Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The long-distance network will include a 180-kilometer long high-speed line to Bahrain, with a top speed of 350 km/h, and a 100 km passenger transport line to Saudi Arabia with speeds of up to 200 km/h. In all, the plans call for 325 km freight transport network, with 270 km used by passenger services.
Finally, Qatar’s World Cup strategy envisions the construction of over 55,000 hotel additional hotel rooms to manage the influx of World Cup guests. There are already plans to double the supply of rooms in hotels and guest apartments by 2022 to cover the everyday requirements of an economy, and the government, as part of its Qatar National Vision 2030 economic diversification policies, intends to contribute substantial investment in excess of $17 billion in the next five years alone to add to Qatar’s existing 45,000 hotel rooms. The Qatari government has also pledged to construct 64 “team base camp” facilities, which include 32 hotels and 32 training sites to accommodate every team.
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| Al Gharafa Stadium |
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| Al Khor Stadium |
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| Al Rayan Stadium |
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| Al Shamal Stadium |
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| Al Shamal Stadium |
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| Al Wakrah Stadium | | | |
Photos taken from:
WAN
