In this article
On 11 December 2024, FIFA officially confirmed Saudi Arabia as the host of the 2034 World Cup. This is not just a sporting event; it is the largest event in the Kingdom's history, bringing millions of visits and enormous spending across entire sectors. 2034 may sound far away, but real readiness is not bought a few weeks before the event — it is built over years. This is the first article in our Make the Most of Tech series, dedicated to one practical question: how do you prepare your business starting now?
An opportunity of unprecedented scale
The tournament is not just teams and matches; it is a wave of demand stretching for years before and after: hotels and hospitality, restaurants and retail, transport and mobility, tourism and entertainment, digital services and payments. Businesses touching these sectors — even small ones — face a rare growth opportunity, provided they are ready to handle a volume and demand they have never dealt with before. And the opportunity is not limited to Riyadh; readiness matters in every city the tournament or its movement will touch.
Why start today, not in 2033?
Because what makes the difference takes time: a system that withstands thousands of requests per hour is not built in a month, a trusted customer base is built over years not days, and the big contracts are signed early with those who have proven they are ready. Whoever starts now has the luxury of testing, failing, and improving before the pressure peaks, while whoever waits will compete for readiness itself at the last minute and at the highest cost. Early preparation is not over-eagerness; it is a competitive advantage that compounds every month.
Where does your business stand today?
Readiness for 2034 is not a slogan; it is four concrete pillars, each of which we will unpack in this series:
- Digital infrastructure: Can your website and app handle a sudden jump in traffic without crashing or slowing down?
- Operational systems: Do you have booking, payment, and operations management that absorb high volume and run smoothly under pressure?
- Customer experience: Can you serve visitors in multiple languages around the clock without your costs ballooning?
- Data and compliance: Do you collect and protect customer data lawfully, so it becomes an asset rather than a liability?
If you hesitate on any of these, that is exactly what to start working on today.
The Origami view
At Origami we are a technology company, and we see preparing for 2034 as, at its core, a long-horizon digital build: scalable systems, organized and secure data, and an automated, intelligent customer experience. Businesses that build this foundation early don't just gain event readiness — they get infrastructure that serves their growth every day, long before the tournament kicks off. The real advantage isn't a big spend one step before 2034; it's small, correct decisions that start now and compound.
Conclusion
The 2034 World Cup is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the Saudi market, and whoever prepares from today enters the event with confidence instead of scrambling for readiness at the last minute. In the coming articles in this series we take you pillar by pillar — digital infrastructure, then operational systems, then customer experience, then data — so you leave with a practical plan, not just enthusiasm.
Sources
- FIFA — Saudi Arabia confirmed as 2034 World Cup host (11 December 2024): https://www.fifa.com
- Saudi Vision 2030 — sectors and targets: https://www.vision2030.gov.sa
Frequently asked questions
When and why is the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia?
FIFA confirmed Saudi Arabia as host on 11 December 2024. The tournament is in 2034 and is the largest event in the Kingdom's history in terms of visitor volume and spending across multiple sectors.
Why start preparing now when the event is years away?
Because real readiness — scalable systems, a customer base, early contracts — is built over years, not weeks. Starting early gives you room to test and improve at the lowest cost before demand peaks.
Which sectors benefit from the 2034 World Cup?
Hospitality and hotels, restaurants and retail, transport and mobility, tourism and entertainment, and digital services and payments — including small businesses within these fields.
What readiness pillars does this series cover?
Four pillars: scalable digital infrastructure, booking/payment/operations systems, multilingual customer experience, and data and compliance.
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