Qatar to Build 1,000 Arab Tents During the FIFA World Cup
During the World Cup, fans will be able to stay in rustic, bedouin-style tents with no frills
Qatar plans to build 1,000 Bedouin-style tents in the desert for football fans during the 28-day World Cup in November and December, according to tournament organizers, who estimate 1.2 million visitors, about half of the country's population.
Visitors will be able to enjoy real Qatari camping by pitching tents in the surrounding desert settings, according to Omar Al-Jaber, head of accommodation at the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy.
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"We'll give fans the chance to live in the desert," Al-Jaber added, adding that 200 tents will be lavish.
According to Qatar Tourism, the country has roughly 30,000 hotel rooms, with 80 percent of them booked for FIFA visitors, according to Al-Jaber.
FIFA will release rooms so that no longer need for teams, referees, media, and other officials as the competition approaches.
Qatar is increasing non-hotel accommodation by adding 69,000 rooms through shared villas and apartments, as well as two cruise ships stationed in Doha port, which will be managed mostly by Accor, the world's largest hotel group.
The most basic tents will have running water and power generators, but no air conditioning, according to Al Jaber. When the competition begins in November, the weather will be moderate, with typical high temperatures around 85 degrees Fahrenheit (29 degrees Celsius).
Around 20% of the structures will be luxury tents with additional facilities, aimed at fans who want the full desert experience rather than just a cheap place to sleep.
Qatar faces a major difficulty in providing adequate accommodations for visiting fans, teams, and tournament staff. During the tournament, almost a million spectators are expected to descend on the tiny Gulf state.
"We have over 100,000 rooms in total, and there are still some additional possibilities," Al-Jaber added, ensuring that there would be enough housing for everyone even during the group stages when visitor numbers will be at their highest. Furthermore, there are plans to construct prefabricated fan villages on vacant land.
Visitors have had a range of alternatives all year, including flats, villas, and cruise ship cabins, thanks to the debut of Hayya Card and the Host Country Accommodation Portal. Traditional lodging bookings can also be made through hotel and vacation rental websites. During the FIFA competition, it is also possible to host a fan.
Nonetheless, present lodging alternatives are limited and pricey; on Tuesday, Qatar's official accommodation website advertised two-bedroom homes on the outskirts of Doha for $390 per night and a suite aboard a moored cruise ship for $1650 per night.
Many guests will not remain overnight because Qatar has welcomed regional airlines to operate around 180 daily shuttle flights, allowing fans to fly in for the day from neighboring cities, alleviating Doha's hotel shortage.