المقدمة
On 2nd December 2010, following on from Qatar’s successful hosting of the Asian Games in 2006, it was announced that Qatar would be the first Arab state to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022 (the “Competition”). From November 21 to December 18, Qatar will welcome 32 teams to participate in the Competition, and through its borders hundreds of thousands of fans and spectators will arrive, many visiting Qatar for the first time.
After the Olympics the World Cup is the most watched sporting event across the globe, bringing with it an incredible amount of exposure. Unquestionably, major sporting events such as the World Cup, present a large array of legal issues that must be considered by the hosting country. Since the announcement, the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (“SC”) has worked hard with stakeholders in preparation for the World Cup, including developing a sporting event legislative framework necessary to support the facilitation and hosting of the Competition, and providing the ground work for future major sporting events.
As lead counsel, Al-Ansari & Associates have been integral to the process of developing such legislation, and we are pleased to confirm that on 29 July 2021 His Highness the Emir issued Law No. 10 of 2021 regarding the Measures for Hosting the FIFA World Cup Qatar2022 (the “Enabling Law”). The enactment of the Enabling Law is a significant milestone in Qatar’s preparations for hosting the FIFA World Cup Qatar in 2022, through which Qatar seeks to ensure that key stakeholders’ commercial interests are protected, and to ensure that Qatar’s numerous commitments in its bid for the World Cup are honored.
The Enabling Law is the cornerstone of the operational set-up for the Competition as it implements the commitments made by the State of Qatar in the Government Guarantees and Hosting Agreements, which each bidding nation executes as part of its bid book. In essence, the Government Guarantees and the Hosting Agreements govern the contractual relationship between FIFA as the owner of the Competition, and the State of Qatar as the hosting nation, and details the obligations of Qatar in relation to key hosting areas. These areas include but are not limited to commercial rights; safety and security; immigration; taxes; and other Intellectual Property Rights.
Pursuant to these obligations and consistent with prior hosting nations, it was necessary for Qatar to issue legislation that enables it to perform its obligations, some of which contradict with, or are not expressly covered by, existing laws and regulations. While Al-Ansari & Associates have been engaged in the analysis of Qatar’s commitments as with regard to existing laws and regulations, and working with the SC and other stakeholders to develop the Enabling Law as the overarching legislation, work continues with regard to the supporting regulations, decisions and circulars, which will provide greater detail to relevant parties on the procedures required to give effect to the high-level issues covered in the Enabling Law.
وفيما يلي، تحليل لعدد من النصوص الرئيسية التي شملها قانون التدابير.
يتكون قانون التدابير من عشرة فصول، تتناول ما يلي:
الأحكام العامة
The provisions of the Enabling Law are to be applied for the purpose of holding activities to host the Competition but is not to exceed the “Competition Period” which is defined to be the period commencing (10) ten days prior to the first match in the Competition and ending (5) five days after the last match in the Competition.
The Law regulates the key operational aspects of the Competition and provides competent authorities with the power to issue further ministerial and internal decisions that will help implement the key obligations stipulated in the Enabling Law. As mentioned above, work continues on a number of ministerial decisions.
الدخول والعمل بقطر
A significant number of workers are expected to come to Qatar as a consequence of the Competition. The Enabling Law seeks to regulate immigration and labour related issues concerning entry to Qatar in connection with the Events around the Competition.
Pursuant to the law Qatar shall issue entry permits without any restrictions or discrimination. The Enabling Law distinguishes between different categories of entities afforded entry permits including FIFA, companies associated with the operations of the Competition, volunteers and fans. The entry permits issued pursuant to the Enabling Law expire at the end of the Competition Period being five days after the last match in the Competition.