Qatar 2022: Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium director talks to AS upon inauguration

The completion of Al Rayyan SC’s Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium signifies another landmark step in Qatar’s preparations to host the 2022 World Cup, demonstrating the nation’s readiness to host the event. With the official opening of the venue on December 18, Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium becomes the fourth of eight World Cup stadiums inaugurated and ready to host the 2022 World Cup.

Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium will host matches from the group stage to the round of sixteen, and for each game during the competition it will receive more than 40,000 fans from different countries around the world. After the competition, the upper tiers of the stadium will be dismantled and reused for other projects and sports facilities in Qatar and around the world.

Speaking on the occasion of Ahmed Bin Ali stadium’s inauguration, stadium director Abdullah Al Faihany revealed several details about the construction of the project in a conversation with AS Arabia.

Firstly, Al Faihany spoke about the details and some of the interesting features about the project since the start of construction in 2016.

“The planning and design work for the project began in 2013, while construction began in 2016. The inauguration of the venue was on December 18 to coincide with Qatar's National day. Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium is the third venue to be fully built and fourth to be inaugurated, with a capacity for 40,000 spectators,” explained Al Faihany.

"The stadium is a masterpiece that combines history and heritage with the luxury of civilization and urban development. The stadium has many unique characteristics, as it is equipped with an innovative and lightweight roof as well as a sustainable and advanced cooling system, which allows the facility to be used for other local activities throughout the year. It is equipped with the cooling system like the other World Cup stadiums."

“We studied the cooling system in open areas, as well as in the areas where fans gather, by studying the movement of the air. The effectiveness of the system has been proven, so we have faith that the technology will help in providing a comfortable environment for fans in all areas during the event. After the event, the plan is to reduce the capacity of the stadium to 20,000."

Can you tell us more about the outstanding figures regarding the stadium?

More than 8,000 thousand workers were involved in the construction of the stadium, completing a combined 50 million hours of work since the beginning of the facility. We achieved an important figure in worker safety by completing 20 million hours of work without any accidents, which reflects the importance of the health and safety of the workers. Worker safety is not limited to working hours; it starts from the time the workers leave their residence.

What are the sustainability factors behind the Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium?

Almost 90% of the materials in the construction of the stadium were reused from the demolition waste of the previous stadium, and the new materials were carefully selected to meet the requirements of environmental conservation. The stadium obtained a four-star rating from the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) in the category of construction, and includes sustainability technology such as low-consumption LED lighting.

How long did the process of installing the stadium grass take?

We did the necessary tests regarding the quality of the grass suitable for the field according to the known technical standards as well as taking into account the requirements of FIFA and the sporting competitions that are organized throughout the various seasons of the year. As such, the finest types of sports turf were selected and developed in the nursery affiliated with the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy responsible for managing the Qatar 2022 projects. The process of transporting and installing the turf at the stadium took 11 hours and 26 minutes.

How will the facilities at the stadium serve the local community after the World Cup?

The new stadium is located in an area characterized by a unique historical and cultural character, and this ancient area will turn into a regional sports hub. As such, the residents of the city will have the opportunity to experience the wide range of sports facilities at the stadium, including six football fields, a cricket stadium, a horse-riding track, a cycling track, an athletics track, a gymnasium equipped for sports activities, and many more.

How is the identity of Al Rayyan SC reflected at the stadium?

In addition to the stands being decorated in red and black, which are the colors of the official Al Rayyan club logo, the two colors combine to form the image of the lion, which is the team mantra recognized by the fans.