meed-logo

line1 line2 line3
SIGN IN / REGISTER

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
https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/12432451/main.gif
Yasir Iqbal

Register for MEED's guest program now to access this article.

Click here to register
Exclusive from Meed
Related Articles
  • KBR re-evaluates design for Libya oil project

    10 July 2026

     

    US-headquartered KBR is responsible for re-evaluating the front-end engineering and design (feed) for the project to develop the J6 North Gialo field in Libya, according to industry sources.

    In June, MEED reported that Libya’s Waha Oil Company (WOC), a subsidiary of the state-owned National Oil Corporation (NOC), had launched a review into the tender process for the J6 North Gialo oil field development project, and that this would include re-evaluating the feed work.

    The Waha concessions are held by a consortium of Libya’s NOC, which holds 59.16%; TotalEnergies, holding 20.42%; and US-based ConocoPhillips, with 20.42%.

    They are operated by WOC, which is 100% owned by NOC.

    KBR has previously provided engineering services for major national projects in Libya, such as the Great Man-Made River project, which is widely recognised as the largest irrigation project in the world.

    In March, KBR was awarded a contract by Zallaf Exploration, Production & Refining of Oil & Gas Company to provide project management and technical services for the South Refinery project in Libya’s southern city of Ubari.

    Under the terms of the contract, KBR will provide contract management, project management and supporting technical services throughout the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) phases of the project.

    The EPC work is expected to be executed over a 50-month period.

    In its statement, KBR said that the project is aligned with its “long-standing commitment to advancing vital oil and gas infrastructure in Libya”.

    In March, MEED reported that South Korea’s Daewoo had pulled out of the tender process for Libya’s J6 North Gialo oil field development project.

    Daewoo had formed a partnership with Egypt’s Petrojet to participate in the tender process.

    The only other company to submit a bid for the project was UK-based Petrofac, which filed for administration in October last year.

    In January, TotalEnergies signed an agreement extending the Waha concessions agreement up to 31 December 2050.

    This agreement set new fiscal terms, allowing an increase in the production of these concessions that were, at the time, producing about 370,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day (boe/d).

    In January, TotalEnergies said that the deal paved the way for “a new phase of investments, including the development of the North Gialo field, which is expected to add 100,000 boe/d of production”.

    The J6 North Gialo project is the first of three field development projects that WOC has prioritised.

    The other two are known as NC98 and Gialo 3.

    Together, the three projects are expected to double Waha’s production from about 300,000 barrels a day (b/d) of oil to 600,000 b/d.

    The Waha concession covers 13 million acres.

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

    Stress test for Gulf aviation; Mixed performance as country outlooks diverge in the Levant; GCC tourism sector pivots from crisis to recovery mode.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the July 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17621475/main.jpg
    Wil Crisp
  • Qiddiya to tender high-speed rail in September

    10 July 2026

     

    Saudi Arabia’s Royal Commission for Riyadh City, in collaboration with Qiddiya Investment Company and the National Centre for Privatisation & PPP, are expected to float the tender in September for the Qiddiya high-speed rail project in Riyadh.

    MEED understands that the clarification process is ongoing for the engineering, procurement, construction and financing (EPCF), as well as the public-private partnership (PPP) packages.

    The Qiddiya high-speed rail project, also known as Q-Express, will cover 84 kilometres, connecting King Salman International airport and King Abdullah Financial District with Qiddiya City.

    In April, MEED exclusively reported that the clients had received prequalification statements from firms for the EPCF package of the project.

    MEED also reported in May that firms were forming joint ventures for the PPP package of the project.

    The line will operate at speeds of up to 250 kilometres an hour, reaching Qiddiya in 30 minutes.

    There are five stations planned: Qiddiya Grand Central Station, Qiddiya Uptown Station, King Abdullah Financial District, Terminal 6 King Salman International airport (KSIA) and Iconic Terminal at KSIA.

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

    Stress test for Gulf aviation; Mixed performance as country outlooks diverge in the Levant; GCC tourism sector pivots from crisis to recovery mode.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the July 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17621301/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Middle East construction cost inflation to hit 5.1% by 2027

    9 July 2026

    Construction cost inflation in the Middle East is forecast to reach 5.1% in 2027, the second-highest of any region worldwide, as global demand for data centres tightens contractor capacity and deepens shortages of skilled labour.

    The projection comes from the Global Construction Market Intelligence report, published by UK programme manager Turner & Townsend. The report draws on data from 112 markets across 44 countries, gathered between 2 March and 20 March 2026.

    Only Africa is expected to see steeper cost escalation, at 7%. Australia and New Zealand follow the Middle East at 4.9%, while the EU records the lowest figure at 2.8%. Globally, construction cost inflation is set to rise from 4.2% in 2025 to 4.5% in 2026 before flattening in 2027.

    The report identifies a two-speed market. Data centres are now the most in-demand construction sector globally, followed by industrial and logistics. More than 70% of the 112 markets surveyed report tightening or overstretched contractor capacity in the data centre sector. By contrast, more than 79% of markets show balanced or spare capacity across hospitality and leisure, residential and commercial development.

    Skills shortage

    Labour availability has displaced material costs as the primary driver of cost escalation. About 71% of markets report labour shortages. Skills deficits are most acute in mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) trades, with 87% of markets reporting MEP shortages. These trades are central to data centre delivery.

    The findings carry weight for the GCC, where sovereign programmes in Saudi Arabia and the UAE are competing for the same contractor pools that artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure now draws on. Regional governments have announced large data centre commitments alongside gigaprojects, housing and transport schemes, placing further strain on an already stretched supply chain.

    Turner & Townsend says that construction input costs have stabilised over the past year, with supply chain resilience built since the pandemic limiting the impact of recent volatility. Cost drivers are becoming more localised and sector-specific rather than the product of international shocks.

    Energy market exposure introduces a separate risk. The report cites oil prices, higher transport and freight costs, and volatility in petrochemicals inputs as significant challenges. Disruption to shipping routes lengthens lead times and adds supply chain volatility.

    Conflict assumptions

    The baseline scenario assumes a relatively short-lived conflict in the Middle East and a moderate rise in energy commodity prices in 2026. A prolonged or escalating conflict would produce more pronounced effects on inflation, supply chains and construction costs.

    New York remains the world's most expensive construction market at $7,938 a square metre, followed by San Francisco at $7,883 and Geneva at $6,985. London ranks fifth at $6,032.

    North America carries the highest regional labour costs, with an average hourly wage of $79.5, ahead of the EU at $75.6 and Australia and New Zealand at $68.

    Digital adoption remains uneven, though momentum is building. Sixty-six percent of markets report that AI capability now carries more weight in tendering and client discussions than it did 12 months ago.

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

    Stress test for Gulf aviation; Mixed performance as country outlooks diverge in the Levant; GCC tourism sector pivots from crisis to recovery mode.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the July 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17606750/main.gif
    Colin Foreman
  • Contractor appointed for Dubai’s One B Tower

    9 July 2026

     

    Dubai-based construction firm Naresco Contracting has been awarded a contract to build One B Tower, located on Dubai's Sheikh Zayed Road.

    Local real estate developer Wasl Group awarded the contract.

    It covers a 47-storey high-rise tower offering a mix of one- to four-bedroom residential units.

    The project is also known as One Billion Meals Endowment Tower.

    The enabling works were undertaken by local firm APCC Building Contracting.

    Netherlands-headquartered UN Studio is the project architect.

    Dubai-based firm Studio International Engineering Consultants is the project consultant.

    The project is slated for completion by 2028.

    This is the second major contract to have been awarded by Wasl Group this year for a residential development.

    In January, the firm awarded an estimated $250m deal to build the Avenue Park Towers project in Dubai to South Korean contractor Ssangyong Engineering & Construction.

    The development comprises two mixed-use buildings offering residential and commercial facilities. One of the towers will have 43 floors while the other will have 37.

    The project is slated for completion by 2028.

    Wasl Group's latest contract award in the UAE market is backed by heightened real estate activity in the construction sector, with schemes worth over $323bn in the execution or planning stages, according to UK analytics firm GlobalData.

    The company forecasts that output from the UAE’s residential construction sector will grow by 3% in real terms in 2026-29, supported by infrastructure, energy and utilities developments, as well as residential construction projects.

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

    Stress test for Gulf aviation; Mixed performance as country outlooks diverge in the Levant; GCC tourism sector pivots from crisis to recovery mode.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the July 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17605135/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Iran and US break peace deal and resume Gulf attacks

    9 July 2026

    Iran and the US have once again traded attacks in the Gulf region, in the worst exchange of fire since the two nations signed an interim peace deal in June.

    US Central Command (CentCom) said on 7 July that it had launched strikes in response to attacks on three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, hitting more than 80 targets including air defence systems, coastal radar and fast boats.

    In retaliatory attacks on 8 July, Iran said it had targeted US military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait.

    Oil prices have spiked following the strikes, with global benchmark Brent crude trading at $77.32 a barrel as of 1pm Gulf Standard Time.

    UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said a tanker travelling through the strait had reported a fire after an unknown projectile hit an engine room on 6 July.

    In two separate incidents on 7 July, a tanker reported it had been hit as it exited the strait but was able to proceed to its next port of call, while another tanker reported sustaining minor structural damage after being struck, UKMTO said.

    Qatar and Saudi Arabia have denounced the attacks, each saying a tanker from its country had been hit while transiting in or near the strait, and blaming Iran.

    A spokesperson for Qatar's foreign ministry, Majed Al-Ansari, said it held Iran fully responsible for an apparently targeted attack on a vessel called Al-Rekayyat as it transited near the Strait of Hormuz.

    Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry said Iran had targeted the Saudi tanker Wedyan as it crossed the strait. The owner of the very large crude carrier, the kingdom’s national shipping company Bahri, confirmed the attack on the vessel in a statement on 7 July, adding that “all crew members are safe and accounted for, and the cargo remains secure”.

    “The vessel remains in a seaworthy condition. The company promptly informed all relevant authorities and continues to work closely with them and other maritime stakeholders, while maintaining continuous communication with the vessel's crew and closely monitoring the situation,” Bahri said.

    “Bahri continues to closely monitor developments in the region and has implemented appropriate precautionary measures to support the safety of its people, vessels and operations,” it added.

    Breakdown of peace deal

    Separately, the US also said it had revoked its temporary suspension of sanctions on Iranian oil sales. Iran's speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accused the US of breaching their memorandum of understanding (MoU) on this issue, and others, including the attacks in southern Iran and "violating Iranian adjustments in the strait".

    Missiles and drones were launched at "85 key US military facilities", including a US Navy headquarters and an air base in Kuwait, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said.

    Iranian state media agency Irna also reported the death of an IRGC guard in the US strikes, “after being struck by shrapnel from a projectile".

    Kuwait has responded to the Iranian strikes on its country, lambasting the "repeated attacks".

    Talks on reaching a permanent peace deal have been on hold due to the state funeral in Iran for the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on 28 February – the first day of US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

    Early on 7 July, Iran's deputy foreign minister described the US attacks as a violation of the US-Iran MoU signed on 14 June, and warned Tehran would "take decisive measures".

    The US had said there would be consequences for what it called the "wholly unacceptable" attacks on the three tankers.

    CentCom said that in addition to 60 small boats, it had struck Iranian missile launch sites and command centres. It did not give the locations of its targets.

    It said the strikes were "to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent individuals in an international waterway".

    Before the strikes, the US Treasury revoked a waiver that had temporarily lifted oil sanctions on Iran and was part of the MoU signed by Washington and Tehran in June.

    Iran's foreign ministry called the move a breach of the MoU and said it proved the "bad faith, inconsistency and unreliability" of the US government.

    It added that Tehran "will take whatever measures it considers necessary to safeguard its national interests and national security".

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

    Stress test for Gulf aviation; Mixed performance as country outlooks diverge in the Levant; GCC tourism sector pivots from crisis to recovery mode.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the July 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17605530/main5658.jpg
    Indrajit Sen