Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary-General, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC): Interview

Interview: Hassan Al Thawadi

What stadiums and facilities will the SC be responsible for constructing ahead of 2022?

HASSAN AL THAWADI: The SC is tasked with delivering the proposed venues and projects for the 2022 FIFA World Cup – the first to be held in the Middle East – while also ensuring that its preparations align with Qatar’s other development imperatives, as described in Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV 2030) and Qatar National Development Strategy 2011-16.

The SC is working with strategic partners across the country to ensure the delivery of these stadiums and associated precincts. There are currently five such projects under various phases of construction: Al Wakrah Stadium, Al Rayyan Stadium, Qatar Foundation Stadium (in association with Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development), Al Bayt Stadium - Al Khor City and Khalifa International Stadium (both of which are in association with the Aspire Zone Foundation).

How are local inclusion requirements incorporated into the 2022 FIFA World Cup projects?

AL THAWADI: The SC is committed to encouraging local businesses by providing Qatari companies opportunities to work on the SC’s projects, while also capitalising on the international market and its experience. For main construction works, local contractors are invited to bid and are encouraged to enter into joint ventures with international contractors, to be led by local contractors. For other works and services, where demands can be met by the local market, the SC directs its procurement accordingly.

Aside from stadiums, what other projects will the SC be responsible for constructing?

AL THAWADI: Each stadium also includes a surrounding precinct with ancillary buildings such as mosques, schools and retail spaces that will contribute to the human, social and economic development of the surrounding community. For example, in Al Wakrah, the SC is not just responsible for building the stadium, but also a multi-purpose indoor arena, training pitches, a mosque, a car park, a community market and an energy centre – all of which will leave a significant and positive legacy to the surrounding community well beyond 2022.

Given the amount of hard infrastructure needed to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, what is the SC doing to meet the required deadlines?

AL THAWADI: In line with QNV 2030, many of the infrastructure projects required for the 2022 FIFA World Cup were already either under construction or in the planning phase even before the country was awarded the right to host the tournament. In order to deliver all of the stadiums, facilities and infrastructure required to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the SC is working in close cooperation with stakeholders and the relevant government departments across the country.

How is the SC ensuring that labourers’ rights are being upheld and enforced on projects?

AL THAWADI: The SC strongly believes that every worker deserves safe, healthy and humane working and living conditions. To that end, we are committed to ensuring the welfare of all workers on our projects. To achieve this, the SC has – in consultation with labour and human rights experts – developed its Worker Welfare Standards, a contractually binding set of requirements that is being applied to all contractors working on SC projects.

The creation and implementation of the Worker Welfare Standards has already made a significant difference in the working and living conditions of those individuals working on SC projects. In August 2014 the SC issued a six-month compliance report – a selfassessment of the SC’s experience in applying the Worker Welfare Standards during the months since they were first released in February 2014.