The emblem for the upcoming FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be a figure-of-eight-shaped white band based on the form of shawls often worn in the gulf region.

Officially unveiled this week, the white continuous band will be the emblem for the 22nd World Cup, which takes place in Qatar in 2022.

The emblem has been designed to represent the shape of traditional woollen shawls that are often worn in the gulf region during winter months, when the event is being held.

According to the organisers of the World Cup, the emblem also has several other layers of symbolism, with its curves designed to represent "undulations of desert dunes".

"The emblem's design embodies the vision of an event that connects and engages the entire world, while also featuring striking elements of local and regional Arab culture and allusions to the beautiful game," explained Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy.

The continuous form is also meant to evoke the "interconnected nature of the event" and the form of the World Cup trophy.

Finally, its figure-of-eight shape represents the number of stadiums that are being built to host the event. These include the Al Wakrah Stadium designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, which hosted its first match earlier this year and a golden stadium by Foster + Partners that will host the tournament's final.

The white emblem is decorated with several marks in maroon – the two colours on Qatar's flag.

At the top of the form a football is flanked by two diacritic dots, which are the marks placed above and below letters in Arabic, while the bottom is decorated with floral patterns similar to those seen on traditional shawls.

Alongside the emblem, a new typeface that will be used to promote the tournament was unveiled.

"The emblem reimagines traditional Arabic calligraphy in a new, contemporary font, taking inspiration from the region and Asia, and fusing tradition with modernity," said the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy.