The American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar (AmCham Qatar) hosted a panel of officials from the Supreme Council for Delivery & Legacy - charged with the successful delivery of all infrastructure required to host the FIFA World Cup™ in 2022 - at the latest edition of its acclaimed Distinguished Speaker Series.

On Monday at the Hilton Doha, business leaders got an inside look at national preparations for the massive global tournament. AmCham Qatar members from the construction, hospitality, legal and professional services industries heard from: Ghanim Al Kuwari, Competition Venues Director; Afraa Al-Noaimi, HR Manager and Director of Operations for Josoor Institute; Fatma Al Nuaimi, Human/Social Legacy Manager; and Farah Al-Muftah, Chairwoman Workers' Welfare Committee.

The panelists discussed progress on the eight to twelve FIFA-compliant stadiums being built or refurbished in Qatar for the tournament. Al Kuwari emphasized the Supreme Committee’s commitment to providing local businesses with opportunities to work on projects. For main construction works, local contractors are invited to bid and are encouraged to enter into and lead a joint venture (JV) with international contractors. The strategy aims to ensure local economic benefit while utilizing global capabilities and expertise needed to deliver the event. The demand for steel, lighting, seats and air conditioning for venues were cited as prime opportunities specifically for the local market.

Special attention was paid to the iconic, 86,000-seat Lusail stadium, which is the proposed host venue for the opening and closing ceremonies of the FIFA World Cup™ in 2022. Officials provided a packed room of executives with an overview of several design, engineering, enabling works and contracting opportunities available on the project, which forms a central component of the distinct concept that won Qatar the hosting rights.

“One of the most unique elements of the 2022 FIFA World Cup experience will be the compact nature of the tournament,” Al Kuwari said. “Fans will have the opportunity to see up to two matches a day due to the proximity of the stadia and the excellent public transport that will be available to them.”

AmCham Qatar Chairman, Robert A. Hager said: “I remember clearly the all-night celebrations on the Corniche when Qatar won the bid to host the World Cup and I am encouraged to see how far the country has come in delivering this historic event. 2022 is on the mind of executives and decision makers in Qatar and across the globe. We were privileged to host such an extensive discussion with our four guests from the Supreme Committee and are grateful to them for taking the time to talk business with our members.”

In addition to detailing private sector opportunities related to Qatar’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup™, Supreme Committee officials discussed innovative local training opportunities in the sports industry and regional youth engagement initiatives leading up the first FIFA World Cup™ in the Middle East. AmCham Qatar members and guests also received a high-level briefing on rigorous workers’ welfare standards being implemented by the Committee on all FIFA World Cup™ construction projects.

AmCham Qatar hosts events open to AmCham Qatar members and members of the wider business community, and serves as a key forum for American, domestic and international businesses to pursue common commercial interests and build relationships in Qatar. The next installment of the Distinguished Speaker Series is on May 20, featuring Nafez A. Bseiso, Chief Venture Officer at RasGas.

More information on AmCham Qatar events is available here: http://www.amchamqatar.org/

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