Built on the site of Al Rayyan Sports Club’s existing stadium, Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium, work is due to be completed in the first quarter of 2019, and the stadium will have a capacity of 40,000 spectators in tournament mode. This will be reduced to 21,000 post-tournament, with the upper tier of seats removed and sent to developing nations in need of sports infrastructure.

The stadium will feature the innovative, sustainable cooling technology delivered by the SC and its stakeholders. This will ensure comfortable viewing conditions for fans and a cooler playing temperature for players during the legacy use of the stadium for domestic competitions, international matches and tournaments hosted in Qatar.

Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, said: “Unveiling the design of Al Rayyan stadium is another important step forward in our preparations to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. We will continue to work tirelessly as our vision for the tournament takes on shape on the ground.”

Sustainability is at the heart of the design, with 90 percent of materials generated from the deconstruction of the current stadium to be re-used. Some of the materials will be used by local and international artists to create works of public art, whilst other materials to be reused include: timber doors, windows and frames were used in the accommodation and some in the site offices; water fixtures and fittings, light switches and sockets were used in the accommodation; concrete was crushed and stored for future site-levelling works; reinforcement bar and other metals will be recycled by Qatar Steel; topsoil has been stockpiled for future precinct landscaping works or sold to others; scrap timber will be recycled by licensed centres across Qatar.

The design will actively reduce the carbon footprint of the stadium and precinct through on-site renewable energy, lightweight building design, careful selection of materials, and energy and water-efficiency measures.

The stadium is designed with the goal of certification under both the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) ratings.

Speaking at the launch, HE Mr. Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali, Qatar’s Minister of Youth and Sports, said:
“Today’s design presentation of the fifth proposed host venue for the 2022 FIFA World Cup is a significant announcement. It confirms that Qatar has moved from the stage of reiterating its bid commitments towards demonstrating its ability to deliver several important infrastructure projects to the highest international standards in accordance with the timetables set.”

Al Rayyan’s sporting heritage and Qatar’s environment is reflected in the design of the stadium. The stadium’s façade will feature a multitude of patterns and designs, which draw on the history of Al Rayyan as well as Qatari culture. Featuring an innovatively designed exterior, it also aims to create a sense of place unique to Al Rayyan in particular, and more generally to the culture of Qatar and the Middle East. The hospitality and service areas will be located outside the stadium.

David Barwell, AECOM Chief Executive, Middle East and India, said: “We are proud to be involved with the 2022 FIFA World Cup™ programme and continue our support of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy. Sport has always been about passion, thrills and incredible achievements and it is exciting to watch the momentum building for the games. As the project manager for the Al Rayyan Stadium and Precinct, we see our strength in connection, bringing together our global team of experts from previous major sporting and FIFA events, and the embedded knowledge in country, technology and cooling experts, all of which is led by our strong project, commercial management and delivery team. We connect the collective knowledge,…