A potential 2035 Rugby World Cup bid from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates is gathering serious momentum, according to reports in The Times. The three Gulf nations are preparing to make a joint push that would bring rugby union’s showpiece event to the Middle East for the very first time — following football’s lead after Qatar staged the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
2035 Rugby World Cup Bid Backed by Rugby Asia
The driving force behind the proposal is Rugby Asia, whose president Qais Al Dhalai has spoken openly about his ambitions. “As our leaders in the Gulf believe, nothing is impossible,” he told The Times. “I foresee this as something that might happen in 2035.” Al Dhalai is pushing a multi-city hosting model, pointing to football’s success across shared tournaments — from Japan and South Korea in 2002, to the upcoming editions across North America in 2026 and through Spain, Morocco and Portugal in 2030. “The stadiums are ready there. It will be the most successful event in the history of rugby,” he added.
However, the obstacles are significant. None of the three nations have ever qualified for a Rugby World Cup. The UAE currently sit 48th in the World Rugby rankings, Qatar are ranked 87th, and Saudi Arabia don’t feature on the 118-country list at all. World Rugby would need to rewrite qualification rules to guarantee host-nation participation — a major structural shift.
Calendar Chaos and Competition from Europe and South Africa
Beyond eligibility, there’s a scheduling headache that cannot be ignored. September and October temperatures across the Gulf make outdoor sport practically impossible, meaning the tournament would need to shift to December and January. That move would collide directly with the Six Nations, which traditionally runs from February through March, and Super Rugby Pacific, which kicks off in the Southern Hemisphere around mid-February. The knock-on effects for the global rugby calendar would be enormous.
Furthermore, the bid won’t be without competition. Italy and Spain are reportedly preparing separate bids, while South Africa — a three-time world champion — is also understood to be interested. “I don’t want to underestimate other bids, and I believe South Africa and other European countries might be interested as well,” Al Dhalai acknowledged.
Interestingly, the Middle East’s relationship with rugby is already deepening. The 2028 Nations Cup finals — a new cross-hemisphere Test competition launching next year — are pencilled in for Doha. Qatar Airways also sponsor the upcoming British & Irish Lions tour to Australia and have funded Springboks Test matches against the All Blacks and Wales at Twickenham.
The formal bidding process kicks off within the next two years. Before 2035, Australia hosts the men’s edition in 2027, the women’s World Cup follows in 2029, and the United States stages both the men’s and women’s tournaments in 2031 and 2033 respectively. The Gulf’s ambitions are bold — but the road ahead is anything but straightforward.