Doha will become the third Middle Eastern stop for the leading MMA promotion organisation’s flagship event.
Qatar will host its first-ever UFC event on November 22 later this year, its organisers and leading mixed martial arts organisation Ultimate Fighting Championship announced on Wednesday.
The UFC Fight Night Doha, set to take place at the Ali bin Hamad Al-Attiyah Arena, is a part of a new agreement between the MMA promotion company and the country’s tourism promotion wing, Visit Qatar.
“In partnership with Visit Qatar, this action-packed Fight Night at Doha’s state-of-the-art ABHA Arena marks a milestone moment for regional fans and UFC’s global rise,” UFC said in a statement.
UFC’s debut event in Qatar will consist of a “stacked lineup of thrilling bouts” with the fight cards soon to be announced, it added.
Doha will be the Octagon’s third Middle Eastern destination in 2025, following Riyadh and Abu Dhabi. While Saudi Arabia’s anb Arena hosted Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Imavov on February 1, the UAE’s Etihad Arena will host Whittaker vs. de Ridder headliner on July 26.
“I’ve always said we’re going to take UFC all over the world and Qatar is the next stop,” Dana White, UFC President and CEO, said.
“They already hosted the World Cup and Formula 1, and now we’re bringing a UFC Fight Night there for the first time. Our fights in the Middle East are always incredible so I can’t wait to get out there.”
White had previously revealed that talks were ongoing to host a “stadium show” in Qatar.
“We started this whole thing over in Abu Dhabi, came over here [Saudi] and did this, and we’re talking to Qatar right now too,” White had said after the UFC Fight Night 250 in Saudi Arabia in February.
Qatar has already hosted multiple ONE Championship events in the past, the most recent one being the ONE 171:Qatar at the Lusail Sports Arena on February 20. It was the combat sports promotion organisation’s second event, following its maiden voyage in 2024.
The Gulf nation is also set to host a major boxing event annually as part of a sponsorship agreement with The Ring, a premier boxing publication.
UFC will now join the same roster of studded events hosted in the country, said Abdulaziz Ali Al-Mawlawi, CEO of Visit Qatar.
“This collaboration marks a significant step that reflects our continued commitment to positioning Qatar as a leading global destination for major sporting events,” Al-Mawlawi was quoted as saying in UFC’s statement.
“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.”
Fans can register their interest for tickets here.
