Qatar is facing an enormous financing challenge in the coming years, as it seeks to deliver a huge government-backed infrastructure programme in the run up to the 2022 Fifa World Cup, says David Staples, managing director of EMEA corporate finance at Moody’s.

Speaking at MEED’s Qatar Infrastructure Projects 2011 conference in London on 4 July, Staples said: “Ahead they have a major execution challenge. Many projects have to be delivered simultaneously and financed simultaneously.”

Staples said Qatar’s AA sovereign rating showed the state was well regarded by investors for strong government vision and oversight. However, he said Doha needed to improve transparency and reporting.