While this company was not itself working on contingency plans, it added: “I’ve spoken to competitors who are saying we work in Doha and Abu Dhabi, we are going to have to choose one or the other.”

But a lawyer working with the Qatari government blasted talk of contingency planning as an “over-reaction by weak bosses in boardrooms” and claimed Qatar’s ally Turkey, which airlifted troops into Doha last week, could step in to help build projects.

It is thought Aecom is unlikely to leave Qatar due to its long-standing ties to the country, including its work with US military base Al Udeid southwest of Doha.

The current trade and travel blockades have already paused or stopped smaller building projects in Qatar as contractors struggle to source the materials and labour they need. But it is understood World Cup schemes have so far not been directly impacted.

Around 40pc of Qatar’s building materials previously came in over its land border with Saudi Arabia. It is estimated Qatar needs 36,000 migrant labourers working on stadium projects alone this year and next.