Renovation design for Khalifa Int’l Stadium unveiled

Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy – the body responsible for building the stadiums and infrastructure for FIFA World Cup™ 2022 – unveiled the much-awaited renovated design of Khalifa International Stadium on Monday (November 24).

The plans for the ambitious redevelopment were announced on the sidelines of the 22nd edition of the Gulf Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

“Khalifa International Stadium is the third proposed FIFA World Cup™ venue to be revealed by the Supreme Committee (SC) so far. This comes after we revealed the designs for Al Wakrah Stadium in November 2013, and Al Bayt-Al Khor City Stadium in June 2014,” Yasir al Jamal, Acting Assistant Secretary General for Delivery Affairs at the SC, told mediapersons.

The Aspire Zone Foundation, one the SC’s stakeholders, is leading the renovation of Khalifa International Stadium. The stadium will feature 40,000 seats for spectators in 2022, along with a number of upgraded facilities. Projacs serves as the project manager, and Dar Al-Handasah is the design consultant, according the official statement posted on SC’s website.

Built in 1976, and renovated for the Asian Games in 2006, the Khalifa International Stadium will undergo a comprehensive renovation and will include adding a new building to the east wing, and the construction of a single roof to cover the whole seating area. While being remodelled, the stadium, which is nearly 40 years old, is expected to keep its iconic metal arcs.

New facilities at the stadium will include the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, which will celebrate Qatar’s culture of sport and the global sports heritage represented by the Olympic Games. The museum, one of 22 members of the Olympic Museum Network, will feature interactive exhibits alongside historical objects, guaranteeing a wide audience and further cementing Qatar’s position as a centre of sporting excellence in the Middle East.

The redevelopment will also feature innovative cooling technology to ensure an optimal playing temperature of 26 degrees Celsius. Food courts, shops, multi-purpose rooms, VIP lounges and a health centre will also be available on the upper and lower concourses to be built in the east wing. A new road network along with two new metro stations in the surrounding area will connect the stadium to public transport, allowing it to be easily accessible.

Hassan al Thawadi, Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, said, “Unveiling the design of our third proposed World Cup™ host venue from Riyadh shows how much the World Cup™ is welcomed by all the countries and peoples of the region, especially Saudi Arabia, which has been supporting us since the early days of our bid.

“It also demonstrates our determination and firm commitment to deliver on an amazing tournament, creating a lasting legacy for Qatar, the Gulf States and the whole region.”

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