A new stadium project in Saudi Arabia, the Aramco Stadium project, is officially underway. The stadium is being put up on an area of 800,000 square meters. It will host nearly 47,000 spectators. The project is being put up with the 2027 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup and has been projected to be completed by 2026.
Aramco Stadium features
The stadium is anticipated to feature a wide array of advanced facilities. These include general admission areas, VIP/VVIP hospitality sections, player accommodations, media facilities. Additionally, training pitches and parking facilities, according to the BESIX press release. The stadium will also have an energy center that is expected to supply power and cooling, and extensive road and landscape developments.
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The project team includes BESIX and ALBAWANI, a joint venture (JV) which will design and build the stadium. The project is managed by Aramco. The architect behind the stadium is Populous who also designed the surrounding master plan in Al Khobar. Aramco is aiming to comply with inclusive design practices that will help it attain LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for sustainability.
Who is BESIX?
BESIX, a Belgian company, is no stranger to the Middle Eastern marker, having established business since 1966. It was involved in Dubai’s iconic Burj Khalifa and the Grand Egyptian Museum on the Giza Pyramids plateau. Most recently, it constructed the 60,000-seat King Abdullah International Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, a worldclass stadium. Peter Lembrechts, the BESIX Middle East general manager, said: “Our strategic entry into Saudi Arabia is driven by BESIX’s exceptional engineering capabilities, which have been demonstrated time and again in our successful delivery of complex design-and-build projects across the region.
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Preparation for the 2034 World Cup
This is one of the 11 stadiums proposed for construction in Saudi Arabia ahead of the 2034 World Cup. The grand scheme additionally includes the renovation of four existing stadiums. Projected costs for all these projects have, however, not been disclosed by the authorities.
Also Read The 62,000-Seater King Abdullah Sports City Stadium Kicks Off Renovation for the 2034 World Cup.
The King Salaman Stadium
Another grand stadium project in Saudi Arabia is the King Salaman Stadium, located in Riyadh. The facility will have a seating capacity of 92,000. Further, it is expected to be completed and open to the public by 2029. Just like the Aramco Stadium project, this gigantic stadium has been designed by Populous. It will host the final game for the 2032 World Cup. Additionally, an interesting fact about the stadium is it will have 120 hospitality suites and an additional 2,200 dignitary suites. There will also be an Olympic-sized stadium, athletics track, outdoor courts for volleyball and basketball and an arena.
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Project Summary
Location: Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia
Scope: 800,000m²
Seating capacity: 47,000 seats
Completion Date: 2026
Stadium Features: VIP/VVIP hospitality sections, player accommodations, media facilities
Project Team: Aramco, BESIX and ALBAWANI, Populous
