Qatar Brings Curling and Hockey to the Desert

Inside a Doha ice arena, curling stones glide across frozen sheets while children take their first shaky skating steps and amateur players swing hockey sticks in friendly competition. It's a scene straight out of Canada, except it's happening in one of the world's hottest countries.

Qatar just launched its 2026 Year of Culture with Canada and Mexico, and winter sports are leading the way. The Winter Sports Development Programme kicked off this month at the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena, introducing Qatari families to curling, ice hockey, and speed skating for the first time.

For 16-year-old Besan Elwadia, this moment has been years in the making. She started figure skating as a teen and helped recruit players for Qatar's first national women's ice hockey team, building something from scratch in a country where winter sports barely existed.

Now an assistant coach in the Learn to Play Hockey programme, she's passing that passion forward. "We were able to build this community in Qatar, parents from different countries coming together through one sport," she said. The program has grown to over 60 kids, creating a thriving winter sports scene in the desert heat.

The appeal is practical too. "Sometimes you just need a cool place and a sport to play indoors," Elwadia noted, a fair point when outdoor temperatures regularly soar past 100 degrees.

But this initiative goes deeper than just sports. Qatar's Year of Culture program pairs the country with international partners annually, fostering connections through shared experiences. This year's focus comes at a meaningful time, according to Canada's ambassador Karim Morcos.

"We've had a rough couple of weeks, turbulent times," Morcos said. "Culture and sports is what brings humanity together. We bring down the barriers and we show what it's like to be human."

The Ripple Effect

The partnership is already creating practical benefits beyond the ice rink. Canada and Qatar recently signed a 10-year agreement to deepen ties across political, security, and economic sectors. Canadian officials are even looking to Qatar for advice as they prepare to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, learning from Qatar's successful 2022 tournament.

Mexico's ambassador Guillermo Ordorica sees similar potential. "We're three friendly countries fostering friendship, cooperation and collaboration," he said, noting that Qatar became widely known in Mexico during the World Cup.

The Winter Sports Development Programme will run monthly events throughout 2026, building grassroots participation and creating pathways to competition. Families from different backgrounds are already coming together on the ice, united by the simple joy of trying something new.

Winter sports are taking root in the desert, one curling stone at a time.