UFC QATAR!
The UFC is expanding its footprint in the Middle East.
Promotion officials announced Wednesday that the Octagon will touch down in Doha, Qatar for the first time ever on November 22, marking a major milestone in the company’s global expansion. The event, titled UFC Fight Night Doha, will be held at the newly launched ABHA Arena, an indoor venue with a capacity of 7,700 spectators.
Dana White
No bouts have been announced yet, but UFC President Dana White called the move a key moment in the promotion’s efforts to bring fights to new markets.
“I’ve always said we’re going to take UFC all over the world — and Qatar is the next stop,” White said in the official release. “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.”
Visit Qatar
The event will take place in partnership with Visit Qatar, the country’s official tourism board, and reflects a continued effort by the Gulf state to position itself as a rising hub for major international sports. According to Eng. Abdulaziz Ali Al-Mawlawi, CEO of Visit Qatar, the event is part of a broader push to showcase the country’s growing sports, events, and hospitality infrastructure.
“The inclusion of UFC, with its fanbase of over 700 million worldwide, underscores this strategic direction and offers a unique platform to showcase Qatar’s sporting excellence and cultural richness,” said Al-Mawlawi.
Doha becomes the third Middle Eastern city to host a UFC event, following Abu Dhabi, which has staged over 20 events including the historic Fight Island series, and Riyadh, which hosted two UFC Fight Nights — most recently in February, when Nassourdine Imavov scored a shocking knockout win over Israel Adesanya.
The UFC will return to the region before then with UFC on ABC 9, taking place July 26 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, headlined by former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker facing Reinier de Ridder.
The announcement also comes on the heels of UFC’s 2025 debut in Baku, Azerbaijan, as part of its aggressive international expansion strategy. However, some critics have raised concerns about the UFC’s choices of host nations, pointing to issues of sportswashing and human rights, particularly in light of past criticisms surrounding Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Despite potential pushback, UFC leadership appears committed to growing its reach in the Middle East — and Qatar, fresh off several high-profile global events, seems eager to stake its claim as a new combat sports destination in the region.
More details on the UFC Fight Night Doha card are expected to be announced in the coming months.
(Sources: UFC.com, Visit Qatar press release)
