Construction team appointed to build Qatar's seventh World Cup stadium
by Kim Megson | 24 Feb 2017
A joint venture partnership between Qatari construction firm AlJaber Engineer LLC and Turkey’s Tekfen Construction will build the Al Thumama / Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy
The organisation responsible for delivering the stadiums and infrastructure for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar has appointed the main contractor to build the 40,000-capacity Al Thumama ground.
The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) has announced a joint venture partnership between Qatari construction firm AlJaber Engineer and Turkey’s Tekfen Construction will build the stadium, which has been designed by the emirate’s oldest building consultancy, the Arab Engineering Bureau (AEB).
Al Thumama is now the seventh stadium for which the main construction contract has been awarded. The venue, located close to Hamad International Airport in the centre of Doha, is scheduled for completion by 2020. It will host FIFA World Cup matches up to the quarter-final stage.
After the tournament has ended, temporary seating will be removed to create a reduced capacity of 20,000, making the ground more sustainable as part of the SC’s modular stadium legacy plans. The development will remain an important sporting hub for Qatar, with four outdoor training pitches and the offices of the football association’s technical committee located alongside the stadium.
“Once ready, the stadium and its surrounding precinct will not only become one of the capital’s central sporting arenas, but will also serve the local community as a central community destination, said SC secretary general, H.E. Hassan Al Thawadi. “I’m confident this construction team will deliver an outstanding, legacy-oriented stadium for a historic tournament.”
While renderings of Al Thumama stadium have not been released, AEB’s chief architect, Ibrahim M. Jaidah, said his practice have reflected the Qatari and Islamic identity through a modern design.
“We’re honoured to be part of Al Thumama Stadium as design architects,” he added. “This achievement shows the benefits that hosting the World Cup has created for local companies to take part in a tournament that will be viewed by millions, for the first time in the Middle East.”
Construction work will begin in 2017. Six other stadiums are currently being built: the Al Rayyan Stadium, Qatar Foundation Stadium, Lusail Stadium, Khalifa International Stadium, Al Bayt Stadium and Al Wakrah Stadium.
A main contractor will be appointed in the second quarter of 2017 to build the final announced venue, the Ras Abu Aboud Stadium designed by Populous.
Earlier this month, Qatar’s finance minister revealed the emirate is spending as much as US$500m (€467m, £399m) a week on infrastructure ahead of the World Cup.
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The organisation responsible for delivering the stadiums and infrastructure for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar has appointed the main contractor to build the 40,000-capacity Al Thumama ground. The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) has announced a joint venture partnership between Qatari construction firm AlJaber Engineer and Turkey’s Tekfen Construction will build the stadium, which has been designed by the emirate’s oldest building consultancy, the Arab Engineering
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