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Ten stadium construction and renovation plans are in place for the Saudi football community to host the Asian Cup in 2027
An array of features has been planned for Saudi football stadiums to be built for the AFC Asian Cup that is due to be held in the kingdom in 2027.
The 2027 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia was confirmed in February with the kingdom officially granted hosting rights following the 33rd Asian Football Federation Congress held in Manama.
It will mark the first time the Asian Cup tournament will be held in the kingdom. Saudi Arabia at the AFC Asian Cup holds three title wins, secured in 1984, 1988 and 1996.
Plans are in place to renovate existing stadiums and build new ones for the 2027 Asian Cup football tournament in Saudi Arabia.
2027 Asian Cup: Saudi football stadium plans
Saudi Arabia has said most of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup’s requirements will be fulfilled by seven existing stadiums.
The competition will be an opportunity for Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) and the Saudi Ministry of Sports (MoS) to activate long-standing upgrade plans.
The Saudi strategy for the 2027 Asian Cup also “utilises ongoing projects, namely the Qiddiya stadium which is central to the greater Qiddiya City project; the Riyadh Stadium which is part of the Vision 2030 initiatives; and the Dammam stadium which predates this bid in the Ministry of Sport’s projects pipeline”.
Saudi Arabia’s 2027 Asian Cup bid book states: “All new stadiums will be designed to focus on legacy and sustainability.
“Stadiums will also be leveraged long after the competition, in line with the nation’s Vision 2030, by improving the venues’ usability for both other sports and non-athletic events. This will reinforce the stadiums’ central position within their communities.”
2027 Asian Cup: Proposed stadiums
Saudi Arabia’s 10 proposed stadiums, both existing and new, for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup are:
King Fahd International Stadium – Riyadh
King Saud University Stadium – Riyadh
Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium – Riyadh
Riyadh New Stadium
Qiddiya Stadium – Riyadh
King Abdullah Sports City – Jeddah
Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium – Jeddah
Dammam Stadium
Prince Mohammad bin Fahd Stadium – Dammam
Prince Saud Bin Jalawi Sports City – Dammam
2027 Asian Cup stadiums: Riyadh
King Fahd International Stadium – Riyadh
Renovation timeline: 2022-25
Estimated construction/renovation costs: $315,000
Completion use: Group stage, round of 16, Quarter finals, Final
King Fahd International Stadium is located in the residential district of Al Maizilah in northeast Riyadh and will be served by the new Riyadh Metro.
The stadium mostly hosts football matches and is also used by three local Saudi football Riyadh Pro League clubs for matches that require larger capacities.
King Fahd International Stadium currently has 58,398 seats, the majority of which are arranged in a single tier around an athletics track.
Asian Cup
The King Fahd Stadium will be used for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.
The majority of the services within the stadium are original and were installed when the stadium was first built. It was designed by Ian Fraser Architects and was constructed by German contractor Philipp Holzmann between 1982 and 1987.
Saudi Arabia’s King Fahd International Stadium design proposals for the 2027 Asian Cup include:
Increasing capacity to 80,000 seats. The expansion is designed by Populous and includes removing the running track, lowering the pitch and adding a new lower tier. Additionally, new upper west stand tiers will be added either side of the stadium’s Royal Box.
Fabric roof upgrades and new LED lighting: The roof will be lit at night and a 360º video board will be installed around the front edge of the roof for spectators to have an immersive digital experience. However the screen will add weight to the front edge of the stadium roof requiring it to be strengthened.
New shading structures, constructed from tensile membranes supported by simple steel structures, will be added over the east concourse and around the stadium.
Energy efficiency: Fittings such as LED lighting and water saving products such as low flow taps will be installed to reduce energy and potable water consumption.
AFC compliance: Player and media facilities will be relocated to the west stand to be in closer proximity to the VVIP and VIP areas, per AFC Asian Cup requirements. A new, lowered pitch will be installed atop improved pitch irrigation and drainage systems, and will have a tailored pitch care management plan. New LED floodlights installed illuminate the pitch to AFC tournament standards.
King Saud University Stadium – Riyadh
Renovation timeline: N/A
Estimated overlay costs: $6,200
Completion use: Group stage, round of 16
King Saud University Stadium is the home venue for current Saudi Pro League team Al Nasr Football Club. It is located on the large campus of King Saud University and was recently renamed Marsool Park following a naming rights agreement until 2026 with Mrsool, a popular local technology company.
The stadium was designed by HOK and built by local contractor Hashem Contracting starting in 2011 and opening in May 2015. The 2019 Italian Super Cup between Juventus and Lazio was hosted at King Saud University Stadium.
King Saud University Stadium has 25,000 seats, and its west stand features an extensive Royal suite capable of holding 100 VVIPs and commercial hospitality space for 2,000 guests.
The stadium has a concrete structure with traditional precast concrete terrace units. The roof structure is a lightweight steel space frame.
King Saud University Stadium was built to FIFA international standards and is compliant with the requirements of the AFC Asian Cup. If there are additional Asian Cup provisions required a 25,000 seat stadium, these will be provided as a temporary overlay to the stadium.
Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium – Riyadh
Renovation timeline: 2022-25
Estimated construction/renovation costs: $245,000
Estimated overlay cost: $7,500
Completion use: Group stage, round of 16
Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Stadium was built in 1970 and originally consisted a single tier structure arranged around an athletics track. A large east stand upper tier has been added as an extension.
The stadium is located in Al Malaz, and a metro station is currently being built just outside the stadium precinct.
Asian Cup
The Prince Faisal Bin Fahad Stadium will be used for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.
The current capacity of the stadium is 22,188 and the facility mostly hosts Saudi football matches. It is currently being used by two local Riyadh Pro League clubs: Al Hilal FC and Al Shabab FC.
The majority of the existing structure will be retained for the Asian Cup. By maintaining as much of the existing structure as possible the design will have the lowest possible carbon footprint.
However the majority of services within the stadium will be replaced as part of the refurbishment.
Proposals for the Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Stadium to be used during the Asian Cup include:
Increasing capacity to 44,500 seats: Designed by Populous, the expansion will involve removing the running track, lowering the pitch, replacing the north and south stands and adding a new lower tier. The structure of the proposed new upper and lower tiers will be independent of the existing structure.
New façade and roof structure for stands: The proposed new structure comprises a modular array of 3D steel trusses that extend over the back of the bowl and taper to a point as they cantilever to the oculus.
New lounges and hospitality boxes, basement and players tunnel.
Relocation of players and press facilities from the east stand to new FIFA and Asian Cup compliant spaces under the new west stand lower tier with direct access to the pitch.
A new pitch will be constructed to international standards with irrigation and drainage to ensure an optimal playing surface.
The refurbishment will change the geometry of the seating bowl from an athletics stadium to a football stadium. It will improve the proximity to the pitch for spectators, and new tiers will have AFC compliant seat spacing dimensions for spectator comfort.
Riyadh New Stadium
Construction timeline: 2021-23
Estimated construction/renovation costs: $80,000
Estimated overlay cost: $7,500
Completion use: Group stage, round of 16, Quarter finals, Semi finals
Riyadh New Stadium will be a dedicated football stadium constructed with lightweight and adaptable seating tiers that will allow for reconfiguration for events and pitch sizes after the Asian Cup.
Riyadh New Stadium will be located close to the international airport, just 700m from a station on the new Riyadh Metro.
Asian Cup
The Riyadh New Stadium will be built in time for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.
Of the 22,000 seats planned for Riyadh New Stadium, 20,000 will be seats that can be sold for the event. The stadium will have 600 commercial hospitality seats and a 200 seat Royal Box that will be used by VVIP’s during the event.
Design elements for the Riyadh New Stadium proposed for the Asian Cup include:
Commercially available lightweight steel seating tier technology to deliver a flexible facility.
A lightweight fabric wrap façade and a sun shade for the west stand roof to protect spectators from the sun.
Shaded concourse spaces equipped with recycled and cleaned air from the air conditioned west stand.
LED pitch floodlights mounted on corner columns
Water saving, renewable energy, recycled materials and native drought resistant plants to reduce carbon footprint and raise sustainability.
Qiddiya Stadium – Riyadh
Construction timeline: 2021-24
Estimated construction/renovation costs: $315,000
Estimated overlay cost: $6,200
Completion use: Group stage, round of 16
Qiddiya Sports Stadium will be a three-sided stadium located in the new sports and entertainment district of the Qiddiya gigaproject.
Populous designed the project in September 2019 for Qiddiya Investment Company and is scheduled to be completed and opened by 2023.
Asian Cup
Qiddiya Stadium will open in 2023 and be used for 2027 Asian Cup matches.
The stadium’s design been influenced by the topology and geology of Qiddiya. The Qiddiya Stadium design uses natural rock formations to funnel spectators towards the stadium.
Other design features of the Qiddiya Stadium include:
Hospitality offerings grouped in the centre of the east stand with lounges, executive boxes and suites that can accommodate up to 2,695 people.
A 22,000 seat capacity arranged around three sides of a football pitch.
Self-sustained energy via a 3.6MV photovoltaic array covering 24,000m2 of the stadium roof. Renewable energy generated will be stored for use by the stadium in a 12MVA battery.
Mechanical ventilation design using underground labyrinths to pre-cool intake air that is subsequently cooled further by air handling units.
A roof structure comprised of a twin skin structure similar to the wing of an aeroplane.
Seating bowl built with industry standard precast concrete terracing supported on concrete raker beams located on an in-situ concrete frame.
Given the site location and the desire to celebrate the dramatic view from the cliff edge the stadium does not have a west stand. All of the facilities that are required to be in the west stand are grouped together in the east stand.
Temporary camera platforms will be erected west of the pitch so that the required distribution of TV camera platforms around the seating bowl is unaffected.
2027 Asian Cup stadiums: Jeddah
King Abdullah Sports City – Jeddah
Renovation timeline: N/A
Estimated overlay cost: $12,300
Completion use: Group stage, round of 16, Quarter finals, Semi finals
King Abdullah Sports City is located on the northern edge of Jeddah in the Makkah province. It offers 65,000 seats in three large overlapping tiers arranged around a football pitch. The stadium also has over 2,000 seats suitable for VIP and commercial hospitality.
King Abdullah Sports City was designed by Arup and construction started in 2012 by Belgium contractor Besix in a joint venture with local contractor Al Muhaidib. Its opening match was in May 2014.
King Abdullah Sports City is used for Saudi Pro League football matches and hosts local Saudi football clubs Al Ittihad FC and Al Ahli FC.
Proposals to ensure King Abdullah Sports City’s Asian Cup compliance include:
New temporary fan engagement zones to offer hospitality and interaction before and after the tournament matches.
Heat stress on the players and the grass pitch: This will be prevented by upgrading the environmental conditions at pitch level.
Replacement of the translucent PTFE structure on the edge of the roof with transparent ETFE (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene) to assist in pitch growth.
Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium – Jeddah
Construction timeline: N/A
Estimated overlay cost: $12,000
Completion use: Group stage, round of 16
Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium was Jeddah’s primary stadium until the construction of King Abdullah Sports City. It sits along a junction of the Jeddah to Makkah motorway.
A refurbishment programme is underway for the stadium and is expected to ensure its readiness for the Asian Cup.
Asian Cup compliant refurbishments ongoing at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium include:
Reusing the west stand and the crescent tier of the other three stands: The athletics track is being removed. But the reused existing tiers still follow its geometry.
New terracing: Stadium capacity will be raised to 27,000 seats with expansion behind the existing crescent tier. New lightweight roof covering all four stands and a new fabric wrap on the façade of the stadium.
Fan zones between the stadium and the outer perimeter wall, and LED screens and facilities built into the outer perimeter wall to serve spectators in these fans zones.
2027 Asian Cup stadiums: Dammam
Dammam Stadium
Construction timeline: 2021-24
Estimated construction/renovation costs: $387,500
Estimated overlay cost: $15,500
Completion use: Group stage, round of 16, Quarter finals
Dammam Stadium is a new 40,000 seat stadium that will be built on the site of the existing Dammam Sports City in Al Khobar region.
The design of Dammam Stadium by Foster + Partners has been strongly influenced by considering the environmental conditions of its location.
Asian Cup
Dammam Stadium is planned to host 2027 AFC Asian Cup matches.
Design elements of the new Dammam Stadium planned for use during the 2027 Asian Cup include:
Panels in envelope to manage wind currents, drawing in air movement for enhanced spectator comfort.
360º façade and roof design for full flexibility for managing seating bowl and pitch ventilation. Interconnected steel trussed elements to support the unique roof and envelope form.
Façade and roof fog mesh fabric covering to collect moisture from the air in sea-fog events in the winter. It will also act as a wet table fabric to pre-cool and help filter dust from the air as it passes through the openings in the facade.
Reflective roof and façade of the Dammam Stadium to protect against direct solar radiation.
All aspects of Dammam Stadium’s design will be compliant with Asian Cup requirements. Where the provisions required for the AFC Asian Cup exceed what would be required in a 40,000 seat stadium these provisions will be provided as a temporary overlay to the stadium.
Prince Mohammad bin Fahd Stadium – Dammam
Renovation timeline: 2022-24
Estimated construction/renovation costs: $130,000
Estimated overlay cost: $7,500
Completion use: backup
Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd Stadium is the primary stadium of Dammam city and local Saudi Pro League teams Al Ettifag F.C. and Al Nahda play their matches here.
Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd Stadium was built in 1973 and has 22,042 seats arranged in a single continuous tier around an athletics track.
The stadium has not been modified since it was built except for a lightweight steel space frame roof that was added to the concrete structure of the stadium on all four sides. The roof provides cover to the majority of spectators in the stadium.
Asian Cup
Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd Stadium will be prepared for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.
Refurbishments planned for Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd Stadium to ensure its Asian Cup compliance are:
Expansion designed by Populous to raise capacity to 30,000 seats, as well as removing the running track, lowering the pitch and adding a new lower tier.
New FIFA and AFC compliant air conditioned facilities in the west stand.
A new podium attached to the west stand for arriving VIP and commercial hospitality guests with direct access from the drop off facility into a new double height column-free lounge capable of holding 400 guests.
The podium will create a secure ground level entrance for players and VVIPs and covered parking for 100 cars.
Expansion of the existing concourse beyond the line of the stadium façade: A new lightweight canopy is proposed around the perimeter of the stadium to shade this extended concourse and its facilities.
Canopy: The proposed canopy comprises lightweight ribbons hanging in catenary and supported by the existing stadium roof structure and a new perimeter steel edge structure.
Additional accessible wheelchair viewing positions: This provision will be made using platforms with super-risers at the back of the tier.
Relocation of player and media facilities, currently situated within the east stand, to the west to be in closer proximity to the VVIP and VIP areas, as per AFC Asian Cup requirements.
Two new roof edge mounted LED screens.
Prince Saud Bin Jalawi Sports City – Dammam
Renovation timeline: 2022-24
Estimated construction/renovation costs: $155,500
Estimated overlay cost: $6,200
Completion use: backup
Prince Saud Bin Jalawi Sports City, built in 1982, is located in Khobar and houses the Saudi Pro League team Al Qadsiah Football Club.
The stadium has 11,500 seats arranged in an east and west stand positioned alongside an athletics track. The majority of the services within the stadium, though well maintained, are no longer to international stadium standards and will be replaced as part of the refurbishment.
Asian Cup
This is what Prince Saud bin Jalawi Sports City will look like when it hosts AFC Asian Cup 2027 matches.
Planned refurbishments to prepare Prince Saud Bin Jalawi Sports City stadium for the 2027 Asian Cup are:
Capacity expansion: Designed by Populous, capacity will be raised to 22,000 seats and create a traditional four stand football stadium. The athletics track and facilities located north and south of the pitch will be removed.
Two 5,000 seat end stands will be constructed with concourses and spectator facilities designed to international standards. Additional seating rows will also be added to the existing east and west stands to bring spectators closer to the pitch.
Building a new roof for the east stand and extending the west stand to cover the new hospitality terracing. The new stands will be designed with lightweight steel roof structures covering all of the new seats.
New terracing will be lightweight steel built over the top of the existing concrete tiers.
New tiers will be supported by the existing concrete stand structure and on new support columns. New FIFA and AFC compliant, air conditioned facilities will be provided in the west stand.
Additional accessible wheelchair viewing positions.
Four new LED screens will be provided in each corner of the stadium.
New energy and water efficient fittings. |
