Ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, it was widely assumed that the tournament had been a key driver of Qatar’s economic boom over the preceding decade. Preparations for the mega event provided an additional impetus to the development of the tourism industry as well as service, construction, and housing sectors. There was also an increase in public spending. Moreover, some official reports stated that about 1M workers were recruited to the wealthy Gulf Arab state. Overall, the scale of Qatar’s transformation into a venue for the world's main football event was so great that, according to Qatari authorities, it led to a substantial increase in GDP.

Consequently, it seemed logical to assume that the championship’s end would be followed by a plunge in economic growth and outward migration of the workforce. Against this backdrop, one conclusion of observers was that to maintain its high pace of economic expansion, Qatar urgently needs a new...