Be it sports, education, economics, Qatar is the new kid on the block

By Omulo Okoth - Sports Editor

SPORTS:

A wind of change is weeping through the Arabian Gulf. Qatar, a tiny Gulf state of some 350,000 indigenous people and 700,000 foreigners, mostly from the sub-continent, on December 2 shook the sporting world to its foundation when it beat Australia, United States, Japan and South Korea to the right to stage the 2022 Fifa World Cup.

Now everybody wants a piece of Qatar, a mineral rich nation with monumental reserves of gas and oil. Qatar is the world’s top liquefied natural gas exporter. Hitherto better known as the home of Al Jazeera Television, the fastest growing satellite television, which was formed to tell the story from the Middle Eastern perspective, Qatar is becoming a multi-faceted leader of choice.

Be it sports, education, economics, Qatar is the new kid on the block.

The AFC Asian Cup (January 5-29) was a test run for the Fifa World Cup. Japan beat Australia in the final to win the title. Now many global sports will be staged in Qatar or federations are bidding to bring them there.

On January 27, Qatar beat France, Norway and Poland to the right to stage 2015 World Handball Championships.

"All the four bidders had the potential to host a successful World Championship, but the IHF Council had to choose the best of them, so Qatar is the best," said Dr Hassan Moustafa, President of International Handball Federation.

Qatar Association of Athletic Federation has sent a letter of intent to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) seeking to bid to stage the 2017 World Championships, Technical Expert of the Qatari Federation, Dr Jabbar Rahima Al-Kaabi, said. Already Qatar hosted the 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships at its world-class Aspire Dome.

Other candidates for the 2017 Worlds are Berlin (Germany), London (Great Britain and NI), Budapest (Hungary), and a yet-to-be-identified Spanish city.

The host will be selected by the IAAF Council at its November meeting in Monaco.

The Commercial bank Qatar Masters (February 3-6), part of the Desert Swing, which includes Abu Dhabi and Bahrain, and a circuit of the European Tour, continues to attract the world’s elite golfers. Although Tiger Woods did not make an appearance this year, John Daly, a two-time Major champion and one of the most naturally-gifted golfers who ever lived played at the Qatar Masters. Others are world number one Lee Westwood and world number two Martin Kaymer.

The Qatar Fifa World Cup may be 11 years away. But the enthusiasm with which the Qatari public and the entire Gulf States have espoused the Qatar’s successful bid to host the football’s jamboree is mind-boggling.

The successful bid is already driving talent to the country, especially in hospitality, banking, travel and tourism.

Four-lane roads are sparkling around Doha. Many more are being designed. Old buildings are coming down. New office blocks are coming up. The Pearl, an exclusive sea front tree-lined clusters and trendy restaurants, with a very Mediterranean concept, expensive apartments and some of the world’s best designers like Armani, cannot wait for the global guests in 2022. Huge yatchs just add to the splendour of the Doha sea front.

"Football has always been a passionate sport and it’s no surprise that a large number of people are looking to become part of Qatar’s success story as the first Middle Eastern country to host the football World Cup," said Sanjay Modi, Managing Director of monstor.com, an online career and recruitment solutions provider.

More than 400 people employed in Qatar were asked if winning the bid makes the country a more lucrative working destination. An overwhelming 75 per cent believe it will, according to the poll, which was conducted in January 2011.

Although the tournament itself will take place 11 years from now, the investment needed to ensure the tournament is a resounding success is leading people to look for new opportunities in the country, the survey said.

"The government will be investing hugely in infrastructure development. All major industry sectors like hospitality, banking, production, manufacturing and engineering; travel and tourism will see a surge in manpower requirement," it said.

Highlighting that it’s a very exciting time to be in Qatar, the survey said employers need to ensure they recognize the size of the talent pool and get the right candidate with the right experience in the right role.

Already, PwC announced it will expand its workforce in Doha to handle the demand in the Middle East. Group chairman Dennis Nally announced the global accounting firm, would add 250 new staff in the next six months.

Stephen Anderson, PwC Doha-based partner, said: "PwC are committed to the Middle East and Qatar is fundamental to the strategy. We have committed significant resources to Qatar and recognize the importance of placing a senior team with international experience on the ground here."

EDUCATION:

The Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar has launched a new major that will allow students to earn a Bachelor of Science in International Economics. The new major, which was launched on February 13, is expected to produce economists to fulfill the growing demand in the public and private sectors within the global economy field.

A master’s degree in chemical engineering, the first of its kind in the Gulf state, was launched on January 27 at the Texas A&M University-Qatar. A maximum of 20 students will be selected to this programme on merit among graduates from the Texas A&M University-Qatar and from a bachelor degree in Science and Engineering.

ECONOMICS:

Thousands of car enthusiasts flocked the Doha Exhibition Centre everyday for four days for the first international edition of the Qatar Motor Show from January 26-29, which was rated one of the most successful events in the country.

At the opening night alone, a total of 8,000 visitors flocked the venue, with 10,000 turning up on the second day. After the four days of the show, up to 60,000 people had attended. Mercedes and Roll Royce have rolled out plans to manufacture Middle East-only products.

Now Qatar aims to become the hub of insurance in the Gulf region