The Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) has intensified its preparations to host Qatar’s largest conference to date – the United Nations’ Framework Convention on Climate Change 2012 (COP18/CMP8). The event which will take place from 26 November to 7 December is expected to attract an unprecedented number of delegates to Doha, representing the United Nations, its specialised agencies and related organisations, governments, non-government and inter-government agencies, civil societies and media from all over the world.
All the spaces and meeting rooms in QNCC will be utilised during this event including 40,000 square metres of indoor exhibition space and the 3,500 m² outdoor exhibition area. This is equivalent to almost 10 football fields. Whilst the Centre is already equipped with 52 meeting rooms, an additional 76 meeting areas will be erected to accommodate all the delegation offices and work areas, making a total of 128 meeting spaces. There will be two (2) halls reserved for plenary sessions for up to 2,000 delegates each, two (2) auditoria as press conference rooms and 21 food outlets located in the Centre with a further 18 service areas around QNCC.
Meetings are expected to run past midnight, and, as a result, the Centre will be operating on a 24-hour basis. To ensure a seamless service delivery, there will be approximately 5,000 staff on duty round-the-clock including volunteers and support staff who are currently undergoing intensive training.