Thanks to an exceptional variety of events and experiences, 2024 has already been a record-breaking year for international visitors to Qatar. The country welcomed over 3.6 million visitors by the end of September, a 26% rise from the same period in 2023.

To continue this momentum on the journey towards attracting six million visitors annually by 2030, Qatar Tourism recently unveiled a roadmap featuring new events and festivals on the redeveloped Qatar Calendar.

Now, as the weather cools and Qatar enters its popular winter-sun period, there’s lots to look forward to. From the annual Formula One Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix to the Doha Forum, Qatar is cementing its position as a regional leader in sports, business, and tourism, and as a global hub bringing together leaders, experts and policymakers.

FIP World Padel Championships 2024 (28 October – 2 November)

Having previously hosted the tournament in 2021, the International Padel Federation (FIP) World Padel Championships will once again return to Doha. The flagship event of FIP, the competition will see 16 national teams descend on Doha with Spain and Argentina looking to defend their titles.

Milipol Qatar 2024 (29 – 31 October)

Milipol Qatar is the first event of its kind in the Middle East, bringing together experts from around the world in the space of homeland security and safety. The convention showcases the latest advancements and products in the industry and, in 2022, hosted more than 222 exhibitors and 11,500 visitors from 84 countries.

WISH 2024 (13 – 14 November)

A Qatar Foundation initiative, the World Innovation Summit of Health (WISH) will take place under the theme ‘Humanizing Health: Conflict, Equity, and Resilience’. WISH will see more than 3,000 healthcare professionals and policy makers gather to search for innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing health problems.

Ajyal Film Festival 2024 (16 – 23 November)

Last hosted in 2022, the return of the Ajyal Film Festival will see a week of international and locally produced cinema for all ages. The festival holds Feature Film and Short Film competitions as well as running a Made in Qatar programme, providing an opportunity for emerging filmmakers from Qatar to showcase their work to a wider audience.

Katara 14^th Traditional Dhow Festival (27 November – 7 December)

Highlighting Qatar’s seafaring history, the Katara Traditional Dhow Festival will include a number of cultural events, exhibitions and performances, and raise awareness of the country’s rich pearl diving heritage and maritime traditions.

Misfits Boxing (28 November)

Misfits Boxing, founded by famous YouTuber KSI, heads to Qatar for the first time. Fan favourite creators will settle their long-running rivalries in the state-of-the-art Lusail Sports Arena. Headlining the supercard will be sworn enemies Gib and Slim, in a colossal night of crossover boxing action.

Formula One Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2024 (29 November – 1 December)

Formula 1 returns to Qatar this winter with the penultimate race of the 2024 season. Experience high-octane thrills trackside as the world’s greatest racers drive to survive the winding Lusail International Circuit.

Doha Forum 2024 (7 – 8 December)

Doha Forum is an annual global platform for dialogue, bringing together thought leaders and officials to discuss the world’s most pressing issues – with previous attendees including HE António Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations, and Børge Brende, President of the World Economic Forum.

This year’s edition is held under the theme ‘The Innovation Imperative’, which will explore how the principle of innovation can be applied to governance and international systems to solve the problems faced by our ever-changing world.

Volleyball World Beach Tour Finals (13 – 16 December)

After impressive victories from athletes Hellvig Åhman and Kloth Nuss at the finals in Doha last year, the tournament returns to Qatar – the only country in the Arab region to host the competition. This year, the world’s top players will once again compete for the Beach Pro Tour title in a thrilling weekend of sport.

FIFA Intercontinental Cup Final (18 December)

Falling on Qatar’s National Day, the inaugural FIFA Intercontinental Cup finals will be played in Doha exactly two years after the final match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The tournament will culminate in what is sure to be a breathtaking match against UEFA Champions League champions Real Madrid.