December 2 marked the fifth anniversary of FIFA awarding Qatar the hosting rights for the football World Cup 2022. In an amazing decision, FIFA decided to run the event from November 17 to December 18, clearly to avoid the scorching summer heat.

The Qatari nation remains upbeat notwithstanding the expenditures associated with the mega sporting event. Visiting Qatar twice last month, it was astonishing to learn that the country at large is not complaining of the substantial financial commitments that come with the award.

This is vital in the light of the drop in oil prices over the past 18 months and with no end in sight. The petroleum sector is the major contributor to treasury income and hence governmental spending. The drop in oil generated income is causing a budgetary shortage in 2015, the first time in 15 years.

Followers of the Qatari economy agree that billions of dollars need to be spent in the run-up to 2022, though they disagree on the size of required investments. By one account, direct and indirect investments including those by local and international investors could reach $200 billion (Dh734 billion).

Big-ticket schemes entail developing stadiums hosting the fixtures. Yet, a primary project involves setting up an innovative metro system, costing around $17 billion, if not more. This very scheme is essential for the economy and its citizens.

Undoubtedly, the popularity and success of Dubai Metro serves as a reference point to the value of such exceptional infrastructure projects with untold benefits.

The metro is good news for some 2.4 million who live in Qatar, of whom more than 2 million are foreign nationals. Qatari nationals are a minority, compromising barely 13 per of the total population.

In fact, immigrant workers mainly from Asia should be the main beneficiaries of job opportunities arising from World Cup schemes. This very fact underscores the openness of the economy and its contribution to the economies of diverse countries.

Certain positive characteristics concerning the Qatari economy provide peace of mind for the authorities, as they prepare for the World Cup. Among other things, there is the absence of unemployment among locals.

It is acknowledged that joblessness in Qatar is the lowest not only among fellow Gulf states but even in the broader MENA region. Numerous qualified sources put unemployment at below 1 per cent or as low as a mere 0.3 per cent.

Another source of comfort is derived from the near absence of inflationary threats. In 2014, the inflation rate averaged 2.8 per cent, clearly not a source of concern. Undoubtedly, this level of inflation is fine by international standards, which stood at 3.5 per cent in 2014.

Still, the inflation rate is fine by Qatar’s own track record. The economy suffered from double-digit inflation rates in 2007 and 2008 due to several factors including exceptionally high oil prices and fall in the value of the dollar. High oil prices forced importing countries to raise prices on their exports, hence setting up imported inflation.

Nevertheless, Qatari authorities should be able to meet the challenges related to developing infrastructure projects. This was put on display recently when the rain exposed elements of wrongdoing in diverse schemes. Leaks were spotted at Hamad International Airport, which is a showcase of Qatari economic success.

Some commentators put the blame on contractors for pressing ahead with projects hastily rather than through planned developments. The complaints focused on absence of training of some immigrant workers, while others argued about problems with materials and accountability.

The writer is a Member of Parliament in Bahrain.