Qatari officials are looking into the possibility of building a first-of-its-kind underwater TV studio for use during the 2022 World Cup, after which it will be turned into a public aquarium.

Speaking to Arabian Business Patric Douglas, CEO of artificial reef and aquarium design firm Reef Worlds, revealed it is in the process of creating plans for a US$30m (€27m, £19.3m) underwater broadcast studio, which will be housed inside a carved out area of rock on the ocean floor.

Douglas added that Qatar World Cup authorities liked the preliminary designs and also enjoyed “the notion of doing the World Cup underwater with sharks swimming around.”

Funding will be covered by broadcasters eager to use the unique filming location as a base when the emirate hosts the World Cup in 2022, according to Douglas.

A decision on whether or not the project will become a reality will be made in July or August later this year. Reef Worlds has extensive experience working on underwater installations, with its most notable project in the Middle East being the upcoming Pearl of Dubai project on Dubai’s The World Islands peninsula.

Once the tournament is complete, the studio will be redeveloped to operate as an aquarium.