Meed | Top 15 Saudi stadium projects

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

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Yasir Iqbal

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Oil tankers attacked in Iraqi waters
12 March 2026

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Two tankers carrying Iraqi oil products were set on fire after being attacked in Iraq’s territorial waters near the country’s southern export terminals, increasing concerns about global energy supplies.

After the attack, the country’s Oil Ministry said that it saw the attacks as “a worrying indicator of escalating tensions in a vital area of the global economy and energy supply”.

It added that “the safety and safety of navigation in international sea corridors and energy supply routes should be kept away from regional conflicts”.

The Oil Ministry said the attacks had a direct impact on the stability of the global economy and energy markets, as well as putting the lives of civilians and workers in the maritime transport sector at risk.

Farhan Al-Fartousi, from Iraq’s General Company for Ports, told state television that one crew member had been killed in the attack and that 38 crew members had been rescued.

Iraq’s state-owned oil marketing company Somo said that the Maltese-flagged oil tanker Zefyros was attacked as it was preparing to enter the port of Khor Al-Zoubair, where it would have taken on board an additional 30,000 tonnes of liquid naphtha.

The second targeted vessel, Safesea Vishnu, was sailing under the Marshall Islands flag and was chartered by an Iraqi company, according to Somo.

Iraq’s oil production has fallen steeply since the conflict began, from 3.3 million barrels a day (b/d) to less than 1 million b/d.

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Wil Crisp

Chevron yet to agree terms for Iraq oil field takeover

12 March 2026

US-based oil company Chevron is yet to agree terms with Iraqi state-owned Basra Oil Company (BOC) for its potential takeover of Iraq’s West Qurna-2 oil field, according to industry sources.

Last month, Chevron signed a preliminary agreement with BOC to explore taking control of the West Qurna-2 oil field.

Until recently, West Qurna-2 was operated by Russia’s Lukoil, which faces a 28 February deadline to divest its assets in Iraq under sanctions.

One industry source said: “Chevron is yet to agree terms, and it has made it clear that it wants different terms to the contract that Lukoil had.”

In January, Iraq’s cabinet approved temporarily nationalising petroleum operations at the West Qurna-2 oil field until a new operator was found.

Lukoil declared force majeure at the West Qurna-2 oil field in November, after sanctions by the UK, EU and US were announced in October.

The Russian company had a 75% stake in the asset.

Prior to Russia’s Lukoil declaring force majeure, Iraq’s state oil authorities froze all cash and crude payments to Lukoil in compliance with the sanctions.

In a statement released on 1 December 2025, Iraq’s Oil Ministry said that it had extended “direct and exclusive invitations to a number of major American oil companies”.

Awarded to Lukoil in 2009, West Qurna-2 lies about 65 kilometres northwest of Basra in southern Iraq and produces about 480,000 barrels a day (b/d) of oil, accounting for roughly 10% of the country’s total oil output.

At the same meeting on 23 February, Chevron also signed a deal relating to the development of the Nasiriyah field, four exploration sites in the province of Dhi Qar and a field in the province of Salahaddin.

Chevron signed an agreement in principle with Iraq in August 2025 to develop the Nasiriyah oil project in the province of Dhi Qar.

At the time, Iraq said it expected the Nasiriyah project to reach a production capacity of 600,000 b/d within seven years.

READ THE MARCH 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

Riyadh urges private sector to take greater role; Chemical players look to spend rationally; Economic uptick lends confidence to Cairo’s reforms.

Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the March 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:

> AGENDA: Saudi Arabia’s private sector picks up the baton

> RAMADAN: Data disproves the Ramadan slowdown story

> INDUSTRY REPORT: Chemicals producers look to cut spending

> INDUSTRY REPORT: Global petrochemical project capex set to rise until 2030

> MARKET FOCUS: Egypt’s crisis mode gives way to cautious revival

> LEADERSHIP: Delivering Saudi Arabia’s next phase of rail growth

> POWER: Lessons learnt from a power plant decommissioning

> INTERVIEW: Abu Dhabi’s Enersol charts acquisitions path

> INTERVIEW: Lina Noureddin, CEO of Lamar Holding, on the evolving PPP landscape

> INTERVIEW: Contract award marks Metito’s return to municipal projects

To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here

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Wil Crisp

Egyptian/Saudi firms to invest $1.4bn in Cairo project
12 March 2026

Saudi Arabia’s Sumou Investment, through its subsidiary Adeer International, and Egyptian developer Paragon Developments have signed an agreement to jointly develop a mixed-use project in Mostakbal City, East Cairo.

According to local media reports, the project will cover about 500,000 square metres and will be developed with a total investment of about $1.4bn.

The project will be developed by Paragon-Adeer, a joint venture of Paragon Developments and Adeer International.

The announcement follows a $1.4bn deal signed in July last year between Adeer International and another Egyptian developer, Midar, to jointly develop a mixed-use project in Mostakbal City.

Midar, Sumou Investment and Hassan Allam Properties are partnering to develop $2bn in hospitality and leisure projects across several locations in Cairo within Midar-owned land parcels.

According to GlobalData, Egypt’s residential construction sector is expected to grow by 8.3% from 2026 to 2029, supported by investments in the housing sector and the government’s focus on addressing the country’s growing housing deficit amid a rising population.

The commercial construction sector is expected to register real-term growth of 6.6% during 2026-29, supported by a rebound in tourism and hospitality markets and an improvement in investment in office buildings and wholesale and retail trade activities.

MEED’s March 2026 report on Egypt includes:

> COMMENT: Egypt’s crisis mode gives way to cautious revival
> GOVERNMENT: Egypt adapts its foreign policy approach
> ECONOMY & BANKING: Egypt nears return to economic stability
> OIL & GAS: Egypt’s oil and gas sector shows bright spots
> POWER & WATER: Egypt utility contracts hit $5bn decade peak
> CONSTRUCTION: Coastal destinations are a boon to Egyptian construction

To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here

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Yasir Iqbal

Qiddiya gives high-speed rail prequalifying firms more time

12 March 2026

Saudi Arabia’s Royal Commission for Riyadh City, in collaboration with Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC) and the National Centre for Privatisation & PPP, has set a new deadline of 16 April for firms to submit prequalification statements for the development of the Qiddiya high-speed rail project in Riyadh

The prequalification notice was issued on 19 January, with an initial submission deadline of 17 March.

The clients are considering delivering the project using either a public-private partnership (PPP) model or an engineering, procurement, construction and financing (EPCF) basis.

Firms have been asked to prequalify for one of the two models.

Last month, the clients invited interested firms to a project briefing session on 23 February at Qiddiya Entertainment City.

The Qiddiya high-speed rail project will connect King Salman International airport and the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) in Riyadh with Qiddiya City.

Also known as Q-Express, the railway line will operate at speeds of up to 250 kilometres an hour, reaching Qiddiya in 30 minutes.

The line is expected to be developed in two phases. The first phase will connect Qiddiya with KAFD and King Khalid International airport.

The second phase will start from a development known as the North Pole and travel to the New Murabba development, King Salman Park, central Riyadh and Industrial City in the south of Riyadh.

In November last year, MEED reported that more than 145 local and international companies had expressed interest in developing the project.

These included 68 contracting companies, 23 design and project management consultants, 16 investment firms, 12 rail operators, 10 rolling stock providers and 16 other services firms.

In November 2023, MEED reported that French consultant Egis had been appointed as the technical adviser for the project.

UK-based consultancy Ernst & Young is acting as the transaction adviser on the project. Ashurst is the legal adviser.

Qiddiya is one of Saudi Arabia’s five official gigaprojects and covers a total area of 376 square kilometres (sq km), with 223 sq km of developed land.