FIFA WORLD CUP QATAR 2022: PREPARING FOR A MOMENT IN HISTORY

The State of Qatar successfully hosted the region’s first FIFA World Cup in November - December 2022, welcoming millions of visitors and hosting more than 50 games, including an edge-of-your-seat final between Argentina and France. The event was widely reported as the best World Cup ever held.

The tournament, while thrilling, posed certain challenges for Qatarbased businesses, and as such, Qatargas assessed the potential risks and undertook several proactive measures to mitigate any possible disruptions to business continuity during the event.

Business Continuity Assured

This included the establishment of the Qatargas FIFA 2022 Taskforce in Q4 2021, to ensure that potential risks were identified and mitigated.

The Taskforce, reporting directly to the Management Leadership team (MLT), met regularly in the year leading up to the event, with eight different teams put in place to identify and mitigate potential risks and threats to the Company’s people, assets and business continuity.

This included logistics and material availability, housing challenges, publicity and media impact, the availability of employees and contractors, and physical and cybersecurity threats.

Importantly, all measures were communicated with employees on a regular basis, encouraging staff to be extra-vigilant in protecting the Company and safeguarding its reputation.

Due to the increased cyber security risks, additional barriers were deployed and guidelines were established that focused on the awareness of phishing and other measures, including the prohibition of mobile devices in industrial control systems environments.

Qatargas also issued a heightened physical security presence, limited access to key operations, issued special emergency and crisis guidelines, and revised work schedules.

A Transport and Travel Information Guide was disseminated to minimise disruption and to maintain business continuity. This included park-and-ride facilities to aid employees travelling between Doha and Ras Laffan Industrial City, as usual bus routes were adjusted to accommodate road closures and match schedules.

As a result, all identified risks were successfully mitigated ahead of the World Cup with zero impact on Qatargas' business continuity and the company’s performance. The tournament also provided Qatargas with the opportunity to increase its resilience to major events as many mitigations were subsequently institutionalised in Qatargas processes.

A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME EVENT

Yet it was also important to the Company that employees were able to enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience, and employee engagement became a key focus during the tournament.

As such, a generous company-wide draw was held for tickets to matches, with each applicant asked to provide their choices for matches they would like to attend. Every employee who entered the raffle received tickets, which amounted to an astounding 7,032 Company-issued tickets.

Additionally, Qatargas senior management hosted 27 customers and local shareholders in the Qatargas skybox at the Al Bayt stadium.

Of course, much of the enjoyment of the FIFA World Cup also took place at an array of supporting events including fan zones, live music concerts, festivals, and other attractions, with Qatargas employees enjoying the celebratory atmosphere.

At the conclusion of the tournament, Qatargas’ Chief Executive Officer, Khalid bin Khalifa Al Thani, reflected on what the experience meant to the Company, saying, “On behalf of Qatargas, our employees and their families, we extend our congratulations to the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, and the State of Qatar, for hosting what could only be described as the best and most successful FIFA World Cup in history.”

Indeed, we concur!

7,032

Following a Company-wide raffle, 7,032 tickets were provided to employees and their families to attend World Cup matches.