Qatar ploughs ahead with World Cup plans despite crises

AFP  |  Doha 

Last year, Qatar's minister Ali Sharif Al-said his country was determined to have everything ready for well before fans started landing in the Gulf.

"We don't want to be painting while people arrive in the country," he said, before going on to reveal is spending almost USD 500 million a week on infrastructure projects for football's biggest tournament.

It is highly unlikely that any visitor to is going to see rushed last-minute preparations.

With four and a half years until kicks off, is ahead of schedule when it comes to venues, related major projects and even paint.

Of the eight stadiums it will build or renovate for 2022, one -- Khalifa International -- is already open and will host next year.

Two more, and Al-Bayt stadiums, are expected to be finished by the end of this year and officially opened early in 2019.

Work is also well underway on Lusail Stadium, where final and opening game will be played in 2022.

Construction across -- is effectively a one city tournament and the longest distance between venues just 55 kilometres -- progresses despite the Gulf political crisis.

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In the 13 months since Saudi Arabia, the and their allies froze all relations with Qatar, World Cup organisers have proved resilient.

The embargo, in place since June 5, 2017, cut off the supply of construction materials from and the UAE, but they were swiftly replaced by imports from and

New roads, hotels, museums, neighbourhoods even towns -- including the estimated USD 45 billion Lusail -- have been built.

Doha's first metro system, costing USD 36 billion, is on track to open in 2019.

expects up to 1.5 million fans to attend in 2022 and they will be housed in a combination of hotels, properties, tents and some 12,000 on cruise ships.

has proved very sensitive about accusations there will not be enough hotel spaces with claims it will fall short on the 60,000 hotel rooms requires a World Cup host nation to provide.

Designated fan zones will be put in place as well as regulated areas where fans can drink.

Qatar, a conservative Muslim country, permits alcohol but only under regulated circumstances.

Where the teams will stay in Qatar -- and if all will stay in Qatar -- for the moment is not clear.

has offered its as a base for teams and use of that could depend on the tournament remaining a 32-nation World Cup or if brings forward plans to increase it to 48 sides.

For security, Qatar will use foreign police officers to try and combat hooliganism, say organisers, as they aim to deliver "the safest World Cup in the world".

British Typhoon fighter jets bought last year by Qatar for USD 8 billion will help provide security and patrol the skies during the event.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Thu, July 19 2018. 09:25 IST