In a major step toward a promising future and as part of advancing the design phase of the Al-Ittihad Sports Village Project – a pioneering development set to redefine the sports infrastructure in Saudi Arabia – the Al-Ittihad Club Company represented by the director of facilities and infrastructure, Eng. Hassan Harsani, has signed agreements appointing the American engineering firm Parsons as the Project Management Consultant and the architecture firm Fenwick Iribarren Architects (FIA) as the Lead Designer for the new development.
‘ittihadclub.sa’ stated that the master plan encompasses an integrated range of facilities including the club’s headquarters, the first-team and youth training pitches, the performance development centers, the administrative buildings, and the commercial assets designed to enhance the club’s financial and operational sustainability while adhering to the environmental sustainability standards.
The Al-Ittihad Club, commonly known as Al-Ittihad or simply Ittihad, is a professional football club based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The club has spent its entire history in the top flight of football in Saudi Arabia currently known as the Saudi Pro League. Ittihad has won 60 championships, 37 of which are official.
The 62,345-capacity King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, known as the Alinma Stadium due to sponsorship reasons, also nicknamed the ‘Shining Jewel’ or simply the ‘Jewel’, is a multipurpose stadium and the main stadium of the Sports City located 30 kilometers North of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It serves as the home stadium of the Al-Ittihad Club.
The Al-Ittihad Club Company is a premier, professional sports entity based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, founded in 1927 as the nation’s oldest sports club.
Founded in 1944, Chantilly (US)-based the Parsons Corporation, a digitally enabled solutions provider, is focused on creating the future of the defense, intelligence and critical infrastructure markets. From Earth to outer space they deliver tomorrow’s solutions today.
Madrid (Spain)-based the Fenwick Iribarren Architects (FIA), founded in 1990 by Architects Mark Fenwick and Javier Iribarren, is an internationally renowned architecture studio. With extensive experience across a wide range of architectural typologies the firm has developed projects on every continent. Fenwick Iribarren Architects has become a global leader in the design, renovation and consultancy of sports architecture having designed over 50 stadiums and sports venues.
‘ittihadclub.sa’ further stated that Al-Ittihad stands among the leading clubs in the Kingdom pursuing this ambitious vision. The project’s strategic planning and comprehensive facilities will enhance the player performance, improve operational efficiency, elevate the fan experience, and support the club’s long-term growth.
The development benefits from a prime strategic location near the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah offering seamless connectivity and urban integration. It is set to become a world-class sports destination aligned with the Saudi Vision 2030 and international infrastructure standards.
The Saudi Vision 2030, sometimes called Project 2030, is a Government initiative launched on April 25th, 2016 by the Saudi Government and the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to diversify Saudi Arabia’s economy, society and culture. The project aims to improve fiscal management and reduce the country’s economic dependency on oil.
In line with its commitment to excellence Al-Ittihad invited a selection of globally renowned consultants to participate in a competitive design process for the master plan. Following a thorough evaluation process – aligned with the FIFA requirements, the global best practices and the club’s operational needs – the preferred design was selected embodying the club’s vision and future ambitions.
This collaboration with the leading international partners reflects Al-Ittihad’s commitment to elevating the sports infrastructure standards and establishing a new benchmark for club facility development in the region.
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