What factors are driving Middle Eastern dictatorships, such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar, to increasingly focus on hosting international sporting events?

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Middle Eastern dictatorships, such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar, have invested heavily in hosting international sports events, citing economic benefits and international prestige. What role do these motivations play, and how do factors like soft power strategies, image rehabilitation, and strategic influence over global politics contribute to their growing interest in sports diplomacy and event hosting?
 
Yeah, prestige is a *lot* of the reason for this, IMO. But also the fact that their oil revenues aren't going to last them forever - and they need some other way to make money once the oil runs out!

Middle east has been focusing a lot on sports recently. However, countries like UAE has focused a lot in promoting global sporting events. This is why you will see major sporting events being held in cities like Dubai. Cricket is played a lot in UAE. UAE is one of the fewest countries in the middle east that has its own cricket team.
 
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