Qatar's successful bid to host the Fifa World Cup in 2022 is set to launch a construction boom involving investments by Doha worth between USD$60 billion and $72.5 billion, according to GulfNews.com.
Citing Standard Chartered Bank’s estimates, the report said that Qatar is expected to spend up to $72.5 billion on infrastructure projects in the next five years.
"We are positive on the longer-term outlook for infrastructure investment [in Qatar]. The government plans to spend close to $20 billion on new roads and transport infrastructure over the next five years, and a $36 billion metro system is in the pipeline over the longer term. Qatar is also building an $11 billion airport and a $5.5 billion deepwater seaport," said the Standard Chartered Bank report.
Rohit Walia, Executive Vice-Chairman and CEO of Bank Sarasin-Alpen Group and Alpen Capital Group, told Gulf News: "The World Cup is expected to create many opportunities but especially for the banking and construction sectors which would be the main beneficiaries of the infrastructure requirements of the World Cup. "However, an improved perception of the region overseas is likely to be positive for the whole market."
The road improvement and expansion programme will include the $687 million Lusail Expressway, Doha Expressway, Dukhan Freeway and the Doha Bay Crossing.
Iftekhar Ahmad, Chief Financial Officer of Doha-based Ali Bin Ali Group, told Gulf News that a lot of the construction activities will kick off in 2012-2013, especially infrastructure and sporting facilities.
However, in a detailed analysis of the impact of Qatar's World Cup success on the country, the Middle East Economic Digest (MEED) estimates that projects worth as much as $60 billion that were on the drawing board, will now go ahead.
These include a $4 billion stadium building programme that will see the construction of nine new eco-friendly football stadiums and the expansion of three existing stadiums. The stadium programme includes the construction of the 86,000-seat Lusail Stadium, which will host the tournament's opening and final matches.
Other projects said to be in the pipeline include: Al Wakrah Stadium, Al Khor Stadium, Education City Stadium, Sports City Stadium, Al Shamal Stadium, Doha Port Stadium, Qatar University Stadium and Umm Sal Stadium.
The existing Al Rayyan, Al Gharafa and Khalifa stadiums will be upgraded.
Qatar is also expected to build over 80,000 new hotel rooms by 2022, 10,000 to 15,000 of which will be ready by the end of 2010. This is to meet Fifa's requirement that the host country should have a 60,000-room capacity.
Doha has said it will provide 80,000 to 90,000 by 2022. The $4 billion Qatar-Bahrain Causeway with its 45-kilometre fixed link between Qatar and Bahrain was put on hold in June. More at Gulf News.com