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Two Years To Go: Where Will You Be Staying For 2022?

Two Years To Go: Where Will You Be Staying For 2022?

Alkass Digital

As the country continues the countdown to the FIFA World Cup 2022, so continues the expansion of infrastructure to accommodate the influx of up to 1.5 million expected fans. And, while the country aims to expand its hotel room capacity from 28,000 to around 45,000 by 2022, there are also more sustainability-minded plans in the pipeline. 

Floating hotels

In January, Katara Hospitality announced that they had partnered up with ADMARES, a world leader in alternative real estate, to deliver 16 floating hotels on the shores of Qetaifan Island North in time for the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar. 

The hotels have a unique design; the 72-meter-long and 16-meter-wide structures each boast 101 guest rooms, a restaurant, and a lounge bar. 



Located just five minutes from Lusail Stadium, the location of the World Cup final, each of the 16 sleek, modern four-story hotels will have a different exterior theme and a design that will separate each story of the floating buildings.
The hotels are being built with sustainability in mind - the energy consumption of each room will be measured and shared directly with the occupant to empower them to cut back on their carbon footprint. 
Following the World Cup, there are plans for the floating real estate to be relocated to a permanent location, though no details have been announced. Mikael Hedberg, CEO of ADMARES revealed that “after the World Cup, the hotels can be placed at any coastal location where the water is at least 4 meters deep."
Private apartments
Meanwhile, last year the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy announced another plan to accommodate the temporary requirement to accommodate a larger number of people. Their plans involve inviting property owners and companies to lease their properties to the Governmental Housing and Buildings department, so that World Cup visitors have the option to rent the accommodation.  
Fatima Fakhro, the SC's Vice Chairman, Host Country Operation Affairs, said: "We are keen to utilise the existing housing stock in Qatar to support our accommodation requirements for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. We believe this is a sustainable solution which ensures excess hotel rooms won't go to waste after the tournament."
Desert Camping
Another accommodation option for those looking to embrace the country’s culture and heritage is to take advantage of the traditional-style nomadic tents on offer in Qatar. 
A favourite pastime of many of Qatar’s locals and residents, camping in the desert, complete with dune-bashing, camel riding, quad biking and swimming in the Arabian gulf could prove to be a popular option for tourists.