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Sports

UAE-based fans splash out for FIFA World Cup hospitality packages

Featured image credit: Qatar 2022

Thousands of football fans based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have purchased special hospitality packages for the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar, according to Al Arabiya English. 

The World Cup will kick off later this month, and more than 3,000 residents have splashed out on ‘follow your team’ packages, which offer supporters a deal to watch all three group-stage matches. The offer also includes shuttle flights from the UAE. 

Alan Holt, managing director of Expat Sport in Dubai, which is a sales agent of official World Cup hospitality packages, told Al Arabiya English: “These are three games over two weeks during the group stages. 

“Generally, people take these with our shuttle flights to fly over just for the day rather than staying for the duration in Doha.”

The report also outlined that the top nationalities for purchasing hospitality packages in the UAE include British, Iranian and Lebanese. 

Holt added: “For the British and Iranians, they are going to support their national teams. For Lebanese fans, their top teams to follow are Argentina and Portugal, mainly to see the football legends, or Germany, which was a league that has been broadcast on television in Lebanon for years, so has garnered a loyal fan following from there.”