Qatar has officially launched a bid to host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games, marking its latest push to become a global hub for major sporting events and diversify its economy beyond oil and gas.
The announcement was made on Today 22nd July 2025 by Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, who said the bid represents “a new milestone” in the country’s sporting journey.
“The bid builds on Qatar’s proven track record of successfully hosting major international sporting events, most notably the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022,” Sheikh Mohammed said in a statement released through the Qatar News Agency.
If successful, Doha would become the first city in the Middle East and North Africa to host the Olympic Games — a landmark achievement for the Gulf region.
Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani also emphasized the country’s readiness, revealing that Doha already has 95% of the required infrastructure in place.
“We have made sport a central pillar of our national strategy,” Sheikh Joaan said. “And we have a comprehensive national plan to ensure 100 percent readiness of all facilities.”
Qatar’s Olympic ambitions come amid continued scrutiny over its human rights record. Amnesty International and other rights groups have accused the country of widespread labor abuses in the lead-up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
While some reports claimed thousands of migrant workers died, Qatari officials said only 37 deaths occurred on World Cup projects, with just three being work-related.
The 2036 Olympic host will be chosen by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), now under new leadership. Kirsty Coventry, a former Olympic swimming champion from Zimbabwe, became the IOC’s first female president last month. Selecting the 2036 host will be one of her first major tasks.
While countries are no longer required to make their Olympic bids public, Doha’s declaration signals its strong intent. With the 2024 Games concluded in Paris (Europe), 2028 for Los Angeles (North America), and 2032 for Brisbane (Oceania), the Olympic cycle appears poised to return to Asia or make its first-ever stop in Africa in 2036.
Qatar now joins other reported interested nations — including India, Indonesia, and Egypt — in the early race for Olympic hosting rights.