Written by UFC is heading to Qatar for the first time in the promotion’s history on Nov. 22.
The promotion announced a partnership with Visit Qatar on Wednesday, which includes a UFC Fight Night inside the ABHA Arena in Doha.
“We’re going everywhere,” said UFC CEO Dana White told reporters in New York City. “We’re been in Abu Dhabi for a long time and we’re starting to move around. Qatar is something we’ve been working on for a couple of years now, and we finally got something done.
“The UFC has been a staple in Abu Dhabi for a long time and I think they’ve looked at Abu Dhabi and seen the success that they’ve had there and then Saudi [Arabia] and Azerbaijan. I’ve been wanting to go to Qatar for a long time and I’m looking forward to it.
While there were rumors that the promotion was eyeing a UFC event in Qatar on May 17, the event instead took place inside the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Now, six months later, Doha fight fans finally get to witness their first event.
“This collaboration marks a significant step that reflects our continued commitment to positioning Qatar as a leading global destination for major sporting events, “ CEO of Visit Qatar Eng. Abdulaziz Ali Al-Mawlawi stated in a press release. “The event forms part of a vibrant season of major activities, supported by ongoing infrastructure development and notable growth in the events and conferences sector. The inclusion of UFC, with its fanbase of over 700 million worldwide, underscores this strategic direction and offers a unique platform to showcase Qatar’s sporting excellence and cultural richness.
“We look forward to welcoming the UFC community and visitors from all around the world to Doha this November for an exceptional experience that highlights our capabilities and strengthens our international partnerships.”