The contributions brought forth by several SMEs aided the development of the football stadiums and sporting amenities in addition to polishing up the public parks and streets in tourist hotspots and ameliorating urban facilities and hotels.
Qatari Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have come together through the support of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) and Qatar Development Bank (QDB) to lay the foundations for FIFA World Cup 2022. Hosting such an advent event with hefty financing and hunting sponsors from across the globe is quite the work. The contributions brought forth by several SMEs aided the development of the football stadiums and sporting amenities in addition to polishing up the public parks and streets in tourist hotspots and ameliorating urban facilities and hotels.
SME Frontrunners at FIFA
Coastal Qatar, founded in 1979, stands at the forefront, aiding massive contributions to the delivery of the FIFA World Cup 2022. It partnered with the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy in 2017 and has since manufactured and installed 250,000 seats over six tournament stadiums. The lay focus is on sustainable production and reducing plastic waste. They manufactured seating areas providing luxury options and chairs that would cater to people with disabilities. The company leveraged services provided by QDB, using their consultation and support to gain international quality certificates.
Al Sulaiteen Agriculture & Industrial Complex (SAIC), the child of Al Sulaiteen Group, has delivered their support through the production and provision of turfs approved by FIFA in multiple stadiums and training sites. Landscaping for stadium gardens and logistic services are also their specialty. They undertook maintenance work for five stadiums and twenty-five training sites as per FIFA-approved international specifications. The landscaping contractor has driven opportunities from the QDB, especially the programs through QDB that give access to contracts with national and international partners.
Qinwan Dates, founded in 2017, has emerged as an award-winning multi-branch company possessing international certificates. Qinwan offers various food and beverages in addition to their primary product, dates. The company, built on hospitality and heritage, signed an agreement with FIFA to oversee the design, production and sale of licensed products converging the limelight to Qatar being the host country by delivering a range of high-quality dates.
Sponix Tech LLC, promising a new era for sports through their software solutions, delivered an integrated viewing experience in the world cup. When a goal is scored, their qualitative technology using AI and machine learning displays a complete all-angle view of the goal from the POV of the player, goalkeeper or referee, inputs derived from cameras on the pitch. QDB is known to provide infrastructures that help them to reach newer peaks in business development.
Qatar Aluminium Extrusion Company (QALEX), the brainchild of QIMC, immensely contributed to arranging for the world cup as its state-of-the-art building and structural materials are used to construct football stadiums across Qatar. Currently, the company produces around 30,000 tonnes of aluminium in a year generating 0% operational waste. They own several international certificates recognising their product quality. The company provides aluminium for building stadiums in Qatar and abroad. QDB has significantly helped QALEX on the grounds of financing and obtaining international certificates and accreditations.
Al- Aziziya Chemicals Factory manufactures chemicals such as insulators and adhesives used in urban construction and infrastructure. Their product portfolio includes solid/liquid construction chemicals, insulation and adhesive foundations, decorative flooring material, protective linings, interior decor, and waterproofing materials. The company bagged various contracts with companies and agencies like hotels, commercial complexes and residential towers due to its strong performance in the national market with considerable import suction potential. The company has shelled massive contributions to improving Qatar’s infrastructure to organise the FIFA World Cup 2022.
FIFA Bagging Big Bucks
FIFA has generated record revenue of $7.5 billion with the help of commercial deals. Qatar has led FIFA to earn $1 billion more than the preceding FIFA 2018 held on Russian grounds. Deals with state-backed companies have been a blessing, no doubt, but the SMEs also remain noteworthy to develop the amenities required for this once-every-four-years buzzing experience. S&P Global had predicted the world cup to generate a revenue of $6.5 billion this year, and the results have well surpassed the predictions. 2.95 million tickets had been sold by the opening day, beating the 2.4 million in 2018.
