2022 World Cup: Qatar organisers planning to house fans in desert camps

A spokesperson has confirmed organisers are 'actively researching the concept of supporters sleeping under the stars'

An artist's impression of Al Rayyan Stadium, one of the proposed venues for the 2022 World Cup (Getty Images)

The organisers of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar are preparing a proposal to accommodate visiting football fans in desert camps, allowing them to ‘sleep under the stars’.

Concerns over Qatar’s ability to house the 500,000 people expected to descend on the country have grown since the dramatic fall of the price of oil, which has delayed construction projects across the country.

When bidding for the right to host the World Cup in 2010, Qatar pledged to build more than 55,000 new rooms. This figure was revised to 46,000 in January, despite Fifa’s original requirement being 60,000.

Organisers now hope to make up the shortfall by offering supporters a culturally authentic experience and accommodating them in Bedouin-style tents.

"At the heart of this World Cup is a commitment to showcase hospitality and friendship of the Middle East," a spokesperson for Qatar’s World Cup Supreme Committee told Reuters.

"As a result, we are actively researching the concept of supporters sleeping under the stars."

It is also believed that desert camps would overcome the problem of vacant properties after the event.

Organisers may also promote private letting services such as Airbnb and housing spectators on cruise ships along the state’s coast.

Additional reporting by Reuters