Gulf's decades-long sports investment strategy shaken by Middle East war
Major Gulf sporting events that were expected to draw large crowds have been disrupted as the war in the Middle East alters plans and attendance at high-profile fixtures.
Around 80,000 fans had been expected to see Lionel Messi face Lamine Yamal in Doha, while thousands more were preparing for Formula 1 grands prix in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The conflict in the Middle East has disrupted those plans and is rocking the Gulf’s decades-long strategy of using major sporting events as a pillar of economic and soft-power investment.