Dubai invites designs for 60,000-capacity Asian Cup stadium

Dubai has launched a competition to design a 60,000-seater stadium that will be built in the emirate to stage matches at soccer’s 2019 Asian Cup, according to an August 13, 2015 Reuters report quoting sources.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in March awarded hosting rights for the 24-nation tournament to the United Arab Emirates, rejecting a rival proposal from Iran. Matches are expected to be played in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi, Dubai and oasis town Al Ain. Each will likely use two stadiums, with AFC regulations stating the hosts must employ at least six for the tournament, according to the report.

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), which did not respond to requests for comment, has the remit from the emirate’s government to build the soccer stadium, the sources were quoted saying. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the design competition has not been made public. Some design bids have already been submitted to the RTA, the sources said, with a mixture of architects, engineers and consultants collaborating on individual submissions.

Dubai Sports Council will be updating the information on the project beginning of November, exclusively at Coliseum Summit MENA, Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain, UAE.

While some reports suggest the new stadium will be built in or near Dubai Sports City, which is already home to a 25,000-capacity cricket stadium that is also expected to host matches at the 2019 soccer tournament, other reports say the proposal is for a standalone venue close to the Hamdan Swimming Complex on Al Ain Road.

The award of the Asian Cup re-invigorated Dubai’s plans to build a large-capacity sports venue. In 2007, it was awarded a design and construction contract for two stadiums – a 60,000-capacity outdoor venue and a 10,000 capacity indoor venue – that at the time was valued at AED830 million ($225.97 million). Both were slated to be completed in 2009, but were mothballed following Dubai’s real estate crash and debt crisis.

The UAE will also stage the 2017 and 2018 editions of the FIFA Club World Cup.

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