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Aramco Stadium races towards completion

12 November 2025

 

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The Aramco Stadium in Khobar is moving forward at an impressive pace as the fast-track project races towards completion in 2026.

The 47,000-seat stadium will be the new home for the Aramco-owned Al-Qadsiah Club and a key venue for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup and the 2034 Fifa World Cup. 

The project’s progress stems from detailed planning and an accelerated delivery strategy. The project was conceived in May 2023, with the design process, managed by Aramco, commencing shortly thereafter. 

“We completed the design within six months,” said Mohammed Subhi, the Aramco Stadium’s project manager.


The project advanced quickly due to thorough planning and a fast-track delivery approach. Initiated in May 2023, the design phase—overseen by Aramco—was completed within six months

An early engagement approach with the main contractor – a joint venture of Besix and Al-Bawani – was instrumental in maintaining momentum. This partnership began early in 2024, allowing for collaborative input on critical construction elements. 

This upfront collaboration minimised pre-construction time, ensuring a rapid transition to site work.

Engineering challenges

The stadium’s architectural design, inspired by the natural whirlpools of the Gulf and featuring interwoven transparent sails, presents significant engineering challenges, particularly in the structural steel and façade work. For spectator comfort, the stadium is equipped with full cooling systems and designed to the highest international standards.

Logistics management is another crucial facet of the project, which is located in central Khobar. With thousands of workers on site, the movement of materials is tightly controlled to minimise community disruption. 

“We control how many trucks can enter the site and at what time. For example, we cannot cast concrete during the day. It has to be after 6pm, up until the early morning,” said Subhi.

A key priority on site is health and safety, an area where the organisation’s legacy from its oil and gas operations is clearly visible. Subhi explains that the principle of health and safety is part of the company’s DNA and is embodied in the deployment of advanced technology and rigorous standards, which have collectively resulted in over 10 million safe working hours to date.

The project employs a sophisticated Smart Safety Command Centre (SCC), which utilises artificial intelligence-based monitoring and 24/7 surveillance. One key feature of the centre is the crane collision prevention system – a key technological advancement in heavy machinery coordination and a first for the region. 

“We have tower cranes and crawler cranes talking to each other. The anti-collision system means cranes talk to each other without human interference, and they automatically shut down when they are too close to each other,” said Subhi.


A key technological advancement is the crane collision prevention system, which means the cranes talk to each other and shut down if they become too close

In addition to ground operations, the project is leveraging aerial technology to mitigate risk in high-altitude work.

“We have used drones for the inspection of the cranes and inspection of the steel structure itself to minimise the risk of working at height,” said Subhi.


Drones have been adopted on-site to mitigate the risk of working at height

Worker welfare

The project’s commitment extends beyond mere regulatory compliance to comprehensive worker welfare, establishing a high standard for construction sites in the region. 

With current staffing reaching approximately 11,000 direct and indirect workers, welfare provisions are a core priority, linking directly back to Aramco’s corporate standards.

In a region where extreme heat is a constant challenge, the project has implemented advanced heat stress management protocols. This includes the installation of heat sensors with alarm systems, mandatory work stoppage during peak heat hours and regular briefings on heat exhaustion symptoms. Fully air-conditioned rest areas are provided for breaks and meals.

Aramco is also committed to developing national talent. A significant proportion of the staff are young, and about 20% of the team are women.

The relationship with the joint-venture contractor is defined by collaboration rather than traditional client-contractor hierarchy. “We are one team, working together,” said Subhi. This approach has fostered a cooperative environment that is accelerating the on-site progress towards the 2026 completion goal. 

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Colin Foreman

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