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Ancient marine tech provides a modern tourist experience.

When you picture the Arabian Gulf, one iconic image that comes to mind is the very distinctive silhouette of a dhow, the ancient trading vessels that have been traversing the waters in and around Qatar for centuries.

As part of the fan offering and as a living showcase of Qatari culture. A fleet of 40 traditional dhow boats are being renovated for tourists in advance of Qatar 2022™.

These newly renovated boats, now being used for excursions, were once the mainstay fleet for a range of uses including pearl diving, fishing and maritime transport. The fleet will be situated at Doha’s central Dhow Harbour, today a key landmark of the Qatari capital. Its entrance lies opposite a most impressive monument that honours national marine history, comprising an open giant oyster shell with a pearl resting at its heart while a fountain rising from the lower shell creates a waterfall over the lip.

Qatar’s tourism authority says the restorations will be completed and in service by October 2021, and will “preserve the boats’ authentic traditional exteriors while adding facilities for a more fun trip out on the water and solar power to replace fuel.”

As well as the dhows, jetties and harbours across the city will be renovated in advance of the huge numbers of visitors expected for the FIFA World Cup 2022™.

Disability access will reach new highs at the FIFA World Cup 2022™.

The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy will ensure disabled fans have the richest media experience ever as they work closely with disability organisations to make access as easy and rewarding as possible.

Working closely with the Qatar Social and Cultural Club for the Blind amongst many other organisations, they have assembled the Accessibility Forum (composed of people from across Qatar’s disability community) “supporting efforts to deliver the most accessible World Cup in tournament history.”   

Khaled Al Suwaidi, the SC’s Stakeholder Relations Senior Manager explained that:

“The Accessibility Forum is very important as it enables us to work directly with people with disabilities and ensure that the accessibility standards we have put in place across stadiums and digital content meet all their needs.”

Faisal Al Kohaji, chairman of the Qatar Social and Cultural Club for the Blind added:

“E-accessibility means access to information for everyone, most notably people with disabilities. Through the implementation of international e-accessibility standards, fans with disabilities can independently access the Qatar 2022™ website and mobile apps to find out information about stadiums and touristic destinations.

“Through the Accessibility Forum, people with disabilities can play a direct role in ensuring all the major digital touch points of the tournament are accessible, including websites and apps that share Qatar 2022™ specific information as well encouraging others to follow suit, including those that will be used to book flights and hotels.”

Dutch legend Ronald De Boer announced as Qatar Legacy Ambassador.

The glittering line up of Qatar Legacy Ambassadors becomes more star-studded with each announcement by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy. Their latest legend is Ronald De Boer who notched up an impressive international career including 13 goals in 67 international appearances for the Dutch national team, playing in both the 1994 and 1998
FIFA World Cup™ finals.

The Qatar Legacy Ambassador programme, seeks to “work with some of the game’s most high-profile names to highlight the SC’s numerous local and global legacy projects, and help use the opportunities provided by Qatar 2022™ to create positive social change across the region and around the world.”

What makes this announcement even more interesting is the long standing relationship De Boer has with football in Qatar where he finished his career alongside his brother Frank playing for Qatari clubs Al Rayyan and Al Shamal between 2005 and 2008. He continued to live in Qatar after his retirement as a player.

“I lived in Qatar for seven years, so it is a country that has played a big part in my life. I have a great feeling about Qatar and its future. I regularly visit Qatar and often speak to my friends living there and they are full of ambition and want to improve everything for the next generation, so I feel privileged to get the opportunity to become a Qatar Legacy Ambassador and help to play a role in achieving this.”

De Boer went on to say:

 “The transformation of Qatar since I first moved there in 2004 has been incredible. The FIFA World Cup™ is being used as a catalyst for positive change in many aspects of life and there are so many interesting projects already underway.

The FIFA World Cup™ is being used as a way to deliver important social changes in the country – and for me, this is the most important aspect of this project – improving the country and leaving behind a better place for the next generation.”

Other Qatar Legacy Ambassadors include Xavi, Cafu, Tim Cahill and Samuel Eto’o.

Expat Sport is appointed as Exclusive Sales Agent of MATCH Hospitality in the UAE for the sale of
the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Official Hospitality Programme.