Saudi envoy welcomes Bangladeshi companies to bid for FIFA WC 2034 projects

Dhaka : The Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Bangladesh Essa Al-Duhailan urged the construction companies from Bangladesh to go to Saudi Arabia and bid for the next FIFA World Cup construction projects, to be taken place in the Kingdom in 2034, while speaking to media at his office in the capital on February 4.    

"Bangladeshi workers already have such experience with the last World Cup in Qatar," he said, adding, "Hence, I invite the construction companies from Bangladesh to bid for the construction projects of 11 stadiums as well as renovation projects of five other existing stadiums that the Kingdom will require for the global tournament."

"It is a big opportunity for the companies and for the workers of Bangladesh too," he claimed." The construction projects are not only limited to stadiums, they include new hotels and resorts as well, according to the envoy.

Saudi Arabia won the bid to host the world's largest sporting event, with plans to hold games across 15 stadiums in five cities. Many migrant workers will be involved in building new sports facilities, transport networks, and hotel infrastructure.

Earlier, some two million expatriate workers in Qatar were crucial in constructing the mega-projects of the earlier World Cup in 2022. It may be mentioned here, a lion share of them were Bangladeshis. They have constructed and renovated eight stadiums, an entire new city Lusail, the Doha Metro, hotels, and new transportation routes.

"Bangladesh has enough numbers of skilled workers. We are happy to accommodate them," Al-Duhailan informed.

Around three million Bangladeshi nationals live and work in Saudi Arabia, making them the largest expatriate group in the Kingdom and the largest Bangladeshi community outside Bangladesh.

Several are employed in the construction sector and more are likely to find jobs in the industry in the next few years, as Saudi Arabia prepares to host not only FIFA World Cup 2034, but also AFC Asian Cup in 2027, Asian Winter Games in 2029, and World Expo in 2030.

"The construction business will be booming and there will be a high demand of workers," Al-Duhailan expressed, further informing that the Kingdom has begun processing 5,000 to 7,000 visas for Bangladeshis every day currently.

"We are willing to accommodate more," concluded the Saudi Arabian envoy.