Populous-designed Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai will be new stop on the global touring circuit

– Shireen Hamdan
The Coca-Cola Arena – a 17,000-capacity sports venue designed by global architecture practice Populous – has opened its doors in Dubai.
Boasting an adaptable structure with an LED-clad façade, retractable seating, and a modular stage, the new facility also features over 35 dining outlets and 42 corporate suites.
The building – said to be the Middle East's largest multi-purpose arena – is Populous' first project to be completed in the region.
Developed by Emirati real estate company Meeras, the Coca-Cola Arena will be managed by AEG Ogden.
Other members of the design and planning team included Contractor ASGC Group and DAR Group.
"This arena sets a new benchmark for entertainment venues in the Middle East," said Gary Reeves, principal at Populous.
"The design takes inspiration from world-class arenas like London’s 02 Arena to create a major new entertainment destination for Dubai; somewhere people will gather both before and after.”
Shireen Hamdan, senior principal at the firm, commented: “Under the expert stewardship of Meraas and AEG Ogden, Coca-Cola Arena will establish Dubai as a new stop on the global touring circuit for the world’s best acts in music and entertainment.”
Populous Dubai Meeras

Swedish architects Wingårdhs create year-round resort with waterpark and hotel for Liseberg

Juneteenth Museum by Bjarke Ingels Group has been designed to inspire spiritual uplift

BIG and HOK's timber concept wins Zurich Airport competition

Christoph Ingenhoven reveals Lanserhof Sylt, featuring the largest thatched roof in Europe

BIG's designs Prague concert hall to be vibrant centre of life

Mather & Co-designed Gretna Green Experience opens to the public

Project to save last major bellfoundry which cast bells for St Paul's and Washington National Cathedral

Perkins & Will reveals designs for net-zero sports and cultural centre in Toronto

World’s first living waterslides announced for Therme Manchester

Heatherwick reveals Volcano-inspired opera house designs for Hainan

Natural history museum planned for Abu Dhabi

Controversial London music venue, MSG Sphere, gets full planning permission

Clifford's Tower opens to the public after £5m redevelopment

Clifford's Tower opens to the public after £5m redevelopment

Glasgow's iconic Burrell Collection reopens after five-year, £68.5m revamp

SB Architects delivers Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Costa Rica with tree-house spa and private residences

Ole Scheeren designs vertical jungle resort complex in China

Designer Brian d’Souza launches Swell to create evocative soundscapes for physical environments

Basalt Architects create geothermal Forest Lagoon in the wilds of Iceland

Hot Pickle design £73m Guinness visitor attraction for Diageo in London

Amsterdam's new digital art centre Fabrique des Lumières will use tech to bring art alive

Pharrell Williams to launch tropical Bahamian beach resort

Banyan Tree curating solar-powered wellness retreat on private Mozambican island

Dubai Expo hits 10 million visits

Foster + Partners designs Dorchester Collection's first hotel in Middle East

Neil Jacobs reveals Six Senses Places concept for major cities

Orient Express returns to Italy after 46 years with six trains designed by Dimorestudio and new Rome hotel

400-year-old mineral spring will power Preidlhof’s €2m medicinal bath experience

Universal Beijing Resort reveals expansion plans for second phase

Pop-up stadium built with shipping containers opens ahead of 2022 World Cup
From parks designed to mitigate the effects of flooding to warming huts for one of the world’s coldest cities, these projects have been designed for increasingly extreme climates