The United Arab Emirates did not qualify for the Qatar World Cup but it will be a winner anyway if an overspill of fans floods its hotels, restaurants and planes.
With little investment the UAE, and in particular Dubai, stands to gain if, as expected, supporters opt to stay in the tourism hotspot instead of tiny Gulf neighbour Qatar during the November-December tournament.
High accommodation prices in the Qatari capital Doha and Dubai’s more permissive environment — including a wider availability of alcohol — could entice fans, experts say.
