Qatar reveals design of sixth 2022 World Cup stadium: Al Thumama

The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), the organisation responsible for delivering the infrastructure necessary to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, on Monday launched the design for Al Thumama Stadium, the sixth tournament venue to be revealed. Inspired by the ‘gahfiya’ headdress, which is a key element of traditional dress worn by men across the Arab states, Al Thumama's distinct design is steeped in history and heritage, and is sure to resonate deeply throughout the Arab world.

The stadium was designed by the renowned Qatari architect Ibrahim M. Jaidah, who is also behind Qatar Museum's Fire Station gallery and Doha’s new Ministry of Interior building, and comes from the Arab Engineering Bureau (AEB), Qatar's oldest architecture and engineering consulting firm. Jaidah also worked on Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development's former headquarters, which is printed on the Qatari 100 riyal note.

Discussing the launch of the stadium design, SC secretary general H.E. Hassan Al Thawadi, said: "With just over five years to go until Qatar opens the doors of the Middle East to the world, this symbolic design embodies everything that unites us as Arabs and Muslims, and is a fitting tribute to the first FIFA World Cup in the Middle East. Given its cultural and historical relevance, I am confident that, once completed, Al Thumama Stadium will become a favourite among the region's sports fans and a sporting landmark that demonstrates to future generations just how unique the Qatar World Cup will be."

Al Thumama will be completed in 2020 and will have a capacity of 40,000, and will host World Cup matches up to the quarter-final stage. The stadium is being constructed by a joint venture between Qatari company Al Jaber Engineering and Turkish firm Tekfen Construction. Architectural Design Consultant Heerim, who recently worked on the stunning Baku Olympic Stadium in Azerbaijan, will also be working on the arena.

The stadium, situated in the busy Doha suburb of Al Thumama - just 6km south of the famous Doha Corniche - is one of the most centrally located of the eight that are being built for the World Cup. It is also just 5km away from Doha's state-of-the-art Hamad International Airport, which will have the capacity to handle the more than 200,000 daily travelling fans during the tournament, and is close to several metro stations on Qatar Rail's Red Line.

The venue will be equipped with world-class accessibility facilities, and the SC's cutting-edge cooling technology to enable year-round sporting activities after the tournament. After the World Cup, the ground's capacity will be reduced to 20,000 thanks to removable modular seating, which the SC will donate to developing nations. The post-tournament Al Thumama will include a boutique hotel and a variety of other services.