Oman unveils vast football fan zone for Qatar World Cup
Oman is aiming to make the Qatar World Cup a home win after announcing grand plans for a sprawling football festival to run throughout the showpiece tournament.
The Sultanate is set to capitalise on a massive Middle East tourism boom during the event by screening every minute of the drama live at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC) Gardens as part of a drive to draw in travelling supporters.
Oman hopes to be an ideal base for the competition, offering short-haul flights to the host country as well as bringing a carnival World Cup atmosphere to its own streets.
“With the Football Fan Festival as the main attraction of the programme, we intend to bring the excitement and atmosphere of the World Cup to local and visiting fans while also showcasing all Oman has to offer — its unique history, heritage, beauty and renowned hospitality,” said Azzan Qasim Al Busaidi, undersecretary of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism and head of the steering committee overseeing the Oman World Cup Programme.
The fan festival will feature live music, games and food stalls, allowing fans to cheer on their nations in style. The entrance fee will be two Omani Rial (Dh19) per person, with under 5s going free, and the fan zone will include 4,000 car parking spaces.
