The rise of mega sports events in the Gulf Region: what legacies for the city of Doha after the 2022 World Cup?

Doha, the capital city of Qatar, was a tiny, sleepy urban settlement with an economy based on fishing and pearling until the 1970s, when the discovery of oil and natural gas triggered unprecedented and rapid urbanization. During the second half of the 20th century, Doha transformed itself from a small village to an emerging international urban centre with a population of more than 2 million people. After this first urbanisation process, linked to the increasing oil production, Doha is now facing a second urban transformation led by a new development strategy, which has been implemented to diversify its economy. Tourism has been identified as a fundamental pillar to diversify the local economy as well as brand the city to attract new international investments. Indeed, the government is focusing on transforming Doha into a cultural and a sports centre by hosting many international events such as the forthcoming 2022 World Cup