Former Ooredoo executive Fatima Al Kuwari will lead Qatar’s campaign to bring the Olympic and Paralympic Games to the Middle East for the first time.

Qatar has appointed Fatima Sultan Al Kuwari as Chief Executive Officer of its bid to host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games, marking a significant step in the country’s effort to bring the event to the Middle East for the first time.

Al Kuwari brings more than two decades of executive leadership experience, having held several senior positions at Ooredoo and overseen strategic and operational programmes across nine markets in the Middle East, North Africa and Southeast Asia. She has also played a role in Qatar’s sporting landscape, contributing to the launch of the Ooredoo Doha Marathon in 2013.

As CEO of the bid, Al Kuwari will oversee the strategic, operational and organisational aspects of Qatar’s campaign, working closely with local and international stakeholders to develop a competitive proposal that highlights the country’s sporting infrastructure and long-term development goals.

The appointment forms part of Qatar’s wider ambition to host what it describes as an exceptional edition of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, while promoting sport as a platform for unity, dialogue and a lasting social legacy.