BRITISH construction firms have won contracts worth £1 billion ($1.65 billion) linked to the Fifa World Cup 2022 in Qatar.

The biggest contract worth £316 million ($524 million) was clinched by Carillion in December 2011 to build a five-star Mandarin Oriental hotel, offices and apartments in Downtown Doha.

Hyder Consulting last year won a £67-million ($111 million) contract to design a section of a £3-billion ($4.98 billion) expressway while Atkins was awarded a £65-million ($105 million) five-year contract in 2011 to improve roads and drainage in Doha by the Qatar Public Works Authority.

Meanwhile, builders Balfour Beatty are shareholders in BK Gulf, which is carrying out electrical and plumbing work on the £360-million ($597 million) National Museum of Qatar.

Also, Mott MacDonald, which designed and built a 500-seater mini-demonstration stadium for Qatar’s 2022 World Cup bid, is working on the new Centre of Arabic Studies.