During the climate summit in Doha, dramatic riots paralyzed the city center. International guests, including tennis player Fernando Verdasco and his partner Ana Boyer, were trapped in the luxury Mandarin Oriental hotel when a crowd attacked the building. Sara Verdasco, the tennis player's sister, revealed details of the tense hours to Spanish media, stating that their children mistook the events for a fireworks display. These incidents cast a shadow over the prestigious summit organized by Qatar and raise questions about security in this wealthy emirate.

Crowd attack on hotel

During the COP31 summit in Doha, a crowd of demonstrators attacked the Mandarin Oriental hotel, one of the main delegation headquarters. Guests, including Fernando Verdasco and Ana Boyer, were forced to remain inside while riots took place outside. The incident occurred in the immediate vicinity of the conference center.

Dramatic accounts from relatives

Sara Verdasco, the tennis player's sister, described the fear and tension among those trapped in interviews with Spanish media. She revealed that for the children, the noise and flashes from the riots were ambiguous enough that they mistook them for a fireworks display. These accounts show the scale of confusion and uncertainty that accompanied the incident.

Context of the climate summit

The riots took place during the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31), which Qatar is hosting. The event gathered thousands of delegates, activists, and journalists. The incident undermines Qatar's image as a safe and stable host for major international events.

The couple's luxury residence

Articles also mention a luxury apartment with a view that Ana Boyer and Fernando Verdasco rent in Doha. This suggests the couple spends a significant amount of time in the Qatari capital, adding context to their presence during the crisis and highlighting their close ties to the region.

During the prestigious UN climate summit in Qatar's capital, Doha, violent riots forced guests to take shelter in the Mandarin Oriental hotel. Among them were Spanish tennis player Fernando Verdasco and his partner, Ana Boyer. These events, described by Spanish media based on an account from the tennis player's sister, Sara Verdasco, reveal the tension and chaos that paralyzed part of the city.

Qatar, a small but extremely wealthy emirate on the Arabian Peninsula, has for years consistently built its international standing by hosting major sporting events, such as the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and political events, like the current climate summit. This 'soft power' strategy aims to diversify its natural gas-based economy and strengthen the country's global influence.

Sara Verdasco, in interviews with LaSexta and the newspaper La Razón, described the dramatic moments the couple experienced. 'They told the children it was fireworks,' she reportedly said, recounting how the little ones interpreted the sounds and flashes from the street. This detail highlights the scale of the anxiety and the adults' effort to hide the real danger from the youngest. According to the account, Verdasco and Boyer, like other hotel guests, were forced to stay inside their rooms while an assault or violent protests took place outside. It is not entirely clear who the assailants were—whether they were climate activists expressing frustration with the pace of negotiations, local protesters, or a group with a different agenda. Spanish media do not provide an official version from Qatari authorities regarding the causes and scale of the incident.

A third article, from the newspaper EL MUNDO, provides additional context about the couple's stay in Doha. It describes the luxury residence with a view that Boyer and Verdasco rent in the city, suggesting they spend considerable time there regularly. This information indicates that the couple was not in Doha solely as tourists or summit guests but had a more established base of life there, which may explain their presence in the city outside the conference period. However, the incident sheds light on potential social or security tensions in the emirate, which carefully cultivates an image of a peaceful and modern oasis.

The COP31 climate summit, which serves as the backdrop for these events, is a key global forum for negotiations on combating climate warming. The fact that such a disruption occurred in its immediate vicinity constitutes a serious security incident and may affect perceptions of Qatar's ability to provide protection for participants in international gatherings. According to available press reports, the emirate's authorities have not issued a detailed statement explaining the incident, leaving room for speculation. For Fernando Verdasco and Ana Boyer, this was certainly a traumatic experience that will long remain in their memory, as well as in the memory of many other guests trapped that day within the luxurious interiors of the Mandarin Oriental hotel.

Mentioned People

  • Fernando Verdasco — Spanish tennis player, former world No. 7, trapped during riots in a Doha hotel.
  • Ana Boyer — Spanish socialite, partner of Fernando Verdasco, trapped with him in Doha.
  • Sara Verdasco — Sister of tennis player Fernando Verdasco, who provided Spanish media with an account of the events in Doha.