Qatar is witnessing significant growth in its tourism sector, driven by substantial investments in hosting global sports events, as part of a vision to diversify the economy and increase tourism’s contribution to GDP. According to recent data, the number of international visitors to Qatar exceeded 5.1 million in 2024, a 25% increase from the previous year, with Doha welcoming an additional two million visitors in the first months of 2025.
This accelerated performance underscores Qatar’s potential to achieve its goal of having tourism contribute 12% to GDP before 2030, an early accomplishment compared to the set timeline. Tourism officials attribute this to the global spotlight from the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which served as a launchpad for a lasting transformation in Qatar’s tourism landscape.
Abdulaziz Ali Al-Mawlawi, CEO of Visit Qatar, stated that the country is nearing its target of attracting 6 to 7 million tourists annually, noting that the strong growth in visitor numbers is driven by Qatar’s established position as a global sports destination. He highlighted that the coming months will see Qatar host major tournaments and events, including the FIFA U-17 World Cup, the 2025 Arab Cup, and the Formula 1 race at Lusail Circuit, alongside a major global event to be announced by the end of November.
Beyond sports events, Doha is developing an integrated tourism ecosystem targeting year-round visitors, including families seeking luxury at affordable prices. The government is banking on safety, cleanliness, and high-quality hotel and dining services as key attractions. Efforts are underway to expand the hotel and resort base, alongside investments in infrastructure for conferences and exhibitions, with approximately 40,000 hotel rooms currently available in the capital and additional projects in progress.
However, regional competition remains a factor, with Dubai maintaining its position as a major tourism hub, Abu Dhabi investing $10 billion to enhance its cultural and tourism standing, and Saudi Arabia aiming to attract 70 million international tourists annually by 2030. Nonetheless, Qatar seeks to transcend competition through regional cooperation, including joint tourism campaigns and multi-destination travel routes across Gulf countries, as Al-Mawlawi noted: “We complement each other.”
Notably, GCC citizens accounted for 41% of Qatar’s visitors last year, with Saudis topping the list. Qatar aims to diversify its tourism markets, with key international markets including the UK, the U.S., China, India, and Germany. Doha has also opened tourism promotion offices in 13 countries to expand its global presence.
