Top 15 Saudi stadium projects
30 August 2024

Saudi Arabia formally kicked off its World Cup participation process in October last year after announcing that it planned to bid to host the event. The announcement was a culmination of Riyadh’s football-focused strategy launched two years before when a consortium led by the kingdom’s sovereign wealth vehicle, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), completed the full acquisition of UK football club Newcastle United from St James Holdings in 2021.
The move was further solidified when Saudi Arabia was effectively confirmed as the host after Australia, the only other bidder for the tournament, withdrew from the race in October last year.
This was followed by Saudi Arabia’s official bid campaign reveal and the submission of its bid to Fifa to host the World Cup 2034 event in July. The official selection of Saudi Arabia as the 2034 host is expected to be confirmed on 11 December.
Saudi Arabia will likely invest hundreds of billions of dollars in developing the required infrastructure to host the event. Experience from previous World Cups, including the most recent one in Qatar, has shown that hosting the tournament can transform a country’s economy.
The tournament brings in fans from around the world to enjoy a month-long festival of football. After the 2022 tournament, Qatar issued a statement saying that more than 1.4 million fans had visited the country during the event.
The decision to host the Fifa World Cup 2034 is a pivotal moment for Saudi Arabia as it validates much of the social and economic change that the kingdom has embarked upon since Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman launched Vision 2030 back in 2016.
Building stadiums is the most prominent part of the bid to host the coveted Fifa World Cup.
According to the official bid book document submitted by Saudi Arabia in July, it will construct 11 new stadiums as part of its bid to host the Fifa World Cup 2034.
Eight out of the 15 stadiums are located in the capital, Riyadh, four in Jeddah and one each in Al-Khobar, Abha and Neom.
The event requires a minimum of 14 all-seater stadiums, of which at least four should be existing structures. The capacity must be at least 80,000 seats for the opening and final matches, and for the semi-finals, there must be at least 60,000 seats. For all other matches, at least 40,000 seats are needed.
The kingdom has recently ramped up its announcements regarding building new stadiums across the country in preparation to host the event.
1. King Salman Stadium
The King Salman Stadium will be the showpiece venue for the tournament. The US-based architectural firm Populous-designed stadium will cover an area of about 660,000 square metres (sq m) and have a seating capacity of over 92,000 spectators.
The stadium will host the opening and final games of the Fifa World Cup 2034 tournament. The construction of the stadium is expected to be completed by 2029.
- Location: Riyadh
- Companies involved: Populous
- Match category: Opening and final games
2. King Fahad Sports City Stadium
The King Fahad Sports City Stadium is expected to be the venue for the semi-final. The stadium will be refurbished to increase its seating capacity from its current 58,000 seats to 70,200 seats.
The main contract bid submission process is ongoing and the project’s expansion works are expected to begin early next year. The stadium will also be a venue for the AFC Asian Cup 2027.
- Location: Riyadh
- Companies involved: Populous
- Match category: Semi-final
3. Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Stadium, Qiddiya City
The Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Stadium will be built on top of a 200-metre-high Tuwaiq cliff located in the new sports and entertainment district of Qiddiya City.
The stadium will have a capacity to accommodate 46,979 spectators and will feature a fully combined retractable pitch, roof and LED wall. The construction works are expected to begin later this year.
- Location: Riyadh
- Companies involved: Qiddiya Investment Company, Populous
- Match category: Third-place playoff
4. New Murabba Stadium
The New Murabba Stadium will have the capacity to accommodate 46,010 spectators and will be built as part of the New Murabba downtown project in Riyadh.
The construction of the stadium is expected to be completed by 2032.
- Location: Riyadh
- Companies involved: New Murabba Development Company
- Match category: Round of 32
5. Roshn Stadium
The Roshn stadium will be built in the southwest of Riyadh. The planned facility will have the capacity to accommodate 46,000 spectators and will span an area of over 450,000 sq m.
- Location: Riyadh
- Companies involved: Roshn
- Match category: Round of 32
6. Prince Faisal Bin Fahad Sports City Stadium
The Prince Faisal Bin Fahad Stadium is earmarked for an expansion that aims to increase its seating capacity from its current 22,188 seats to 46,865 seats.
The facility will also host the AFC Asian Cup in 2027.
The refurbishment works will change the geometry of the seating bowl from an athletics stadium to a football stadium.
- Location: Riyadh
- Companies involved: Populous
- Match category: Round of 32
Saudi World Cup bid bucks global trend for sporting events
7. South Riyadh Stadium
The Populous-designed stadium will be located in southwest Riyadh close to the Wadi Namar. The stadium will have the capacity to host 47,060 spectators. It is expected to be ready by 2032.
- Location: Riyadh
- Companies involved: Populous
- Match category: Round of 32
8. King Saud University Stadium
The King Saud University Stadium, located on the university’s campus in the west of Riyadh, is one of the venues that will undergo expansion and refurbishment to host the event.
The expansion will increase the stadium’s capacity to 46,319 spectators and the construction works are expected to be completed by 2032.
- Location: Riyadh
- Companies involved: Populous
- Match category: Round of 32
9. King Abdullah Sports City Stadium
The King Abdullah Sports City Stadium is the home ground for the Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli football clubs. The venue will undergo expansion works that will increase its seating capacity to 58,432 people. The stadium will host the quarter-final games.
- Location: Jeddah
- Companies involved: Arup
- Match category: Quarter-final
10. Qiddiya Coast Stadium, Jeddah
The Populous-designed stadium will be situated at the heart of the Qiddiya Coast development in Jeddah. The multi-purpose stadium will have a 46,096 seating capacity and will be one of the venues for the round of 16 matches.
- Location: Jeddah
- Companies involved: Populous
- Match category: Round of 16
11. Jeddah Central Stadium, Jeddah
The already under-construction football stadium is part of the Jeddah Central Project in Jeddah and has a seating capacity of 45,794 spectators. The stadium is expected to be completed by 2027.
- Location: Jeddah
- Companies involved: Jeddah Central Development Company, Khatib & Alami, Gerkan Marg & Partner, China Railway Construction Corporation, Sama Construction for Trading & Contracting, Geoharbour
- Match category: Round of 32
12. King Abdullah Economic City Stadium, Jeddah
The planned stadium will have a seating capacity of 45,700 and will be built in the King Abdullah Economic City on the Red Sea Coast, north of Jeddah.
- Location: Jeddah
- Companies involved: Populous
- Match category: Round of 32
13. Aramco Stadium
The Aramco Stadium in Al-Khobar is under construction and is expected to be completed by 2026. The stadium will have a capacity of 46,096 seats.
- Location: Al-Khobar
- Companies involved: Saudi Aramco, Roshn, Foster + Partners, Populous, Besix, Albawani, Al-Osais International Holding
- Match category: Round of 16
14. King Khalid University Stadium
The stadium will undergo expansion works that will see its capacity raised to 45,428 seats. The facility is expected to be ready by 2032.
- Location: Abha
- Companies involved: Populous
- Match category: Round of 16
15. Neom Stadium
The 46,010-seat stadium in Neom is “designed to stand out among the world’s most iconic landmarks”, according to the bid book. It is planned to be built 350 metres above ground level within The Line project at Neom.
The stadium is expected to be ready by 2032.
- Location: Neom
- Companies involved: Neom
- Match category: Quarter-final
Exclusive from Meed
-
Eni completes $1bn Libya gas project20 October 2026
-
Diriyah Company tenders East Wadi bridge20 October 2026
-
Kuwait selects firms for power works at housing projects20 October 2026
-
Taqa moves forward with Mirfa-Liwa scheme20 October 2026
-
All of this is only 1% of what MEED.com has to offer
Subscribe now and unlock all the 153,671 articles on MEED.com
- All the latest news, data, and market intelligence across MENA at your fingerprints
- First-hand updates and inside information on projects, clients and competitors that matter to you
- 20 years' archive of information, data, and news for you to access at your convenience
- Strategize to succeed and minimise risks with timely analysis of current and future market trends
Related Articles
-
Eni completes $1bn Libya gas project20 October 2026
Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access
Libya’s Mellitah Oil & Gas Company, a joint venture of Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) and Italian oil and gas company Eni, has achieved mechanical completion on its Bouri gas utilisation project (GUP).
In a statement, Eni said that start-up procedures are currently under way, enabling the recovery of associated gas produced from the Bouri field, which is located in Libya’s western offshore area.
The main contract for the project, worth $1bn, was awarded to Italy’s Saipem in August 2023.
The project involved the construction and installation of the new Bouri gas recovery module and related tie-in infrastructure that enables the recovery and treatment of gas that was previously flared.
In its statement, Eni said that the project “represents one of the most significant emissions reduction initiatives in Libya’s energy sector”.
It also said that it would contribute to improving the environmental performance of the country’s production system by reducing greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 1.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year.
The recovered gas will be supplied to the domestic market, adding about 700 million cubic metres a year and helping meet demand from the power generation sector.
The project will also support additional gas volumes available for export to Europe through the GreenStream pipeline.
Eni said: “The start-up of the Bouri GUP confirms the joint commitment of Eni and NOC to the development of Libya’s energy sector through initiatives that combine production growth, operational efficiency and environmental stewardship.
“The project is part of a broader strategy aimed at enhancing the value of the country’s gas resources while reducing the emissions intensity of upstream activities.”
Other key projects currently under way in Libya include the A&E Structures Project, which is focused on bringing new offshore gas resources onstream for both the domestic market and exports, as well as initiatives aimed at upgrading and optimising gas production and transportation infrastructures.
Eni has been present in Libya since 1959, and the company’s equity production in the country in 2025 amounted to approximately 162,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day.
The Bouri offshore field is part of Libya’s Block NC-41, located 120 kilometres north of the Libyan coast in the Mediterranean Sea.
It was first discovered in 1976 at a depth of 8,700 feet. It is estimated to contain 4.5 billion barrels in proven recoverable crude oil reserves and 3.5 trillion cubic feet of associated natural gas, with an annual production potential of 6 billion cubic metres.
The first development phase, costing nearly $2bn, was completed in 1990.
This was immediately followed by a second development phase, which entailed drilling 55 new wells and constructing three additional platforms. Production began from the oil platforms DP4 and DP3 in August 1998.
https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/20770288/main3529.jpg -
Diriyah Company tenders East Wadi bridge20 October 2026

Saudi Arabia’s Diriyah Company has invited contractors to bid on the construction of the DG II East Wadi Bridge, a key crossing within Riyadh’s Diriyah master development.
The bridge will provide an arterial road connection linking the Diriyah Gate Phase 2 (DG II) Infrastructure Package 1 and Package 2 zones.
The project scope involves the construction of a 100-metre clear-span, 44-metre-wide, single-span post-tensioned concrete bridge structure with integrated abutments and four architectural towers.
The contract also encompasses approach slabs, access roads, pavements, associated earthworks, architectural finishes and cladding, mechanical, electrical and plumbing installations, utility interfaces, bridge parapets, vehicle restraint systems, waterproofing, testing and commissioning, and associated temporary works.
The client will supply the detailed engineering design, and the selected contractor will develop the construction methodology.
Diriyah Company issued the prequalification tender on 14 September, with submissions due by 10 December.
https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/20769223/main.png -
Kuwait selects firms for power works at housing projects20 October 2026

Kuwait’s Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW) has appointed contractors for works covering the supply and installation of 132kV underground cables at South Sabah Al-Ahmad Residential City.
The contracts relate to engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) packages for works for 28 main 132/11kV substations across four phases.
According to sources, Egypt’s Elsewedy Cables has won contracts for phases 1 and 3, while China’s TBEA Shandong Luneng Taishan Cable Company has won contracts for phases 2 and 4 of the development.
In April, MEED reported that PAHW had received at least five bids for each of the first two packages, with Elsewedy and TBEA offering $44m and $40.5m, respectively.
The first contract (phase 1) covers seven substations in zones N9, N7 and N5. The second contract (phase 2) covers seven substations in zones N10 and N5.
PAHW issued two further 132kV underground cable tenders for the South Sabah Al-Ahmad residential development at the end of May, as reported by MEED.
This included a contract (phase 3) covering the supply, extension and maintenance of 132kV underground cables linked to seven substations serving the N5, N6, N8 and N10 districts. Egytech Cables, a subsidiary of Elsewedy, submitted an offer of $39.95m, the lowest of four bids.
The other contract (phase 4) covers the supply, extension and maintenance of 132kV underground cables feeding eight main transformer substations serving the N1, N6 and N11 districts.
MEED reported in July that TBEA had submitted an offer of $44.06m for the contract.
South Saad Al-Abdullah
Separately, PAHW has appointed contractors for power transmission works at the South Saad Al-Abdullah residential development.
The local firm Sayed Hamid Behbehani & Sons has won a contract to supply, install and maintain 10 main 132/11kV transformer substations for the development’s third phase.
Another local firm, Al-Ahleia Switchgear, has won a contract to supply, install and maintain 10 main 132/11kV transformer substations for the project’s fourth phase.
As reported in August, the contractors submitted bids of $104.2m and $103.3m, respectively.
https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/20761431/main.jpg -
Taqa moves forward with Mirfa-Liwa scheme20 October 2026

Taqa Transmission and Taqa Distribution are advancing a major water transmission and distribution scheme serving Mirfa, Madinat Zayed and Liwa in Abu Dhabi, sources told MEED.
The project, originally estimated to cost $775m, has been in procurement for several years. According to sources, a request for proposals has been issued, with bids due on 5 January 2027.
The initial submission deadline was 11 November, before it was extended.
The project was previously tendered in December 2024, with contractors submitting bids for transmission and distribution packages in January 2025. As of August, the bids were still under evaluation. It is unclear whether the latest tender represents a revised procurement process for the same scheme.
The project comprises a water transmission system from Mirfa, alongside distribution networks serving farms and settlements in the western region.
According to details seen by MEED, the latest scope includes a pumping station at Mirfa with a capacity of 128 million imperial gallons a day, about 125 kilometres of transmission pipelines to Muzairah, with branches to Madinat Zayed and Liwa Summit, and storage tanks at the three locations.
The distribution network is divided into four geographic clusters covering Liwa East, Liwa West, Madinat Zayed and Seih Al-Kheir. The works include associated pipelines, pumping stations and storage facilities.
The earlier procurement was structured as an engineering, procurement and construction scheme, divided between transmission and distribution works.
As MEED understands, the latest tender is being pursued under a design, build and operate model, which extends the contractor’s responsibilities to operating the infrastructure after construction.
https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/20758109/main2934.jpg -
Contractors prepare prices for Adnoc Onshore field facilities project20 October 2026

Contractors are preparing commercial bids for Adnoc Onshore’s project to build on-plot and off-plot facilities at the Rumaitha and Shanayel fields in Abu Dhabi’s North East Bab oil field cluster.
The project will enhance and sustain crude output at Rumaitha and Shanayel at 45,000 barrels a day (b/d), supporting Adnoc’s Accelerated Integrated Programme 5 (AiP5) drive to lift capacity to 5 million b/d by 2027.
Adnoc Onshore issued the main tender for engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) works on 19 June. Contractors submitted technical bids by 5 August, sources told MEED.
The on-plot works include adding a crude processing train, produced water treatment and reinjection systems, surface water pumps, and multi-stage gas compression and dehydration units. Works also include utilities, safety and control systems, modifications to existing Phase 1 units and 220kV power infrastructure.
The off-plot scope includes installing and tying in new gas-lifted producer and water-injection wells, as well as building and expanding wellhead clusters. Contractors will also lay crude-gathering, water-injection and gas-export pipelines connecting to the Adnoc Gas network and extend 33kV overhead power lines across the fields.
The tender follows Adnoc Onshore’s shift in strategy for the wider North East Bab development – comprising the Al-Nouf, Rumaitha and Shanayel fields – after scrapping an earlier engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCm) approach. MEED reported in December that the operator had cancelled an off-plot EPCm contract awarded to China Petroleum Engineering & Construction Corporation (CPECC) in October 2024. Adnoc later cancelled a separate on-plot EPCm tender that it received bids for in the second quarter of 2025.
In addition to the North East cluster, Adnoc Onshore continues to make progress on EPC works for another similar project to build off-plot facilities at the South East cluster of oil fields in Abu Dhabi, which is also integral to Adnoc Group’s AiP5 campaign.
The South East cluster comprises the Asab, Mender, Qusahwira, Sahil and Shah fields and accounts for approximately a third of Adnoc Onshore’s oil production capacity.
MEED previously reported that Adnoc Onshore awarded CPECC the EPC works for the South East off-plot facilities project, with the contract value estimated at around $1.2bn.
CPECC is also performing EPC works on the South East on-plot facilities project in a consortium with Greece-headquartered Archirodon. Adnoc Onshore awarded an estimated $1.5bn contract for that project to the consortium in December 2024, with EPC works scheduled for completion in 2027.
ALSO READ: Adnoc Onshore seeks bids for Bu Hasa field EOR project
https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/20757699/main.jpeg