Al Wakrah Stadium

Al Wakrah Stadium is a football stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, which was inaugurated on May 16, 2019. This is the second of eight stadiums for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar after the reconstruction of the Khalifa International Stadium. It was designed by Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid together with AECOM.

The stadium has a curvilinear postmodern and neo-futuristic design. The exterior of the roof was inspired by the sails of traditional Dhow boats, which were used by divers from the region and weaved through the Persian Gulf streams.

This is the official venue of the football club Al-Wakrah SC, where the Qatar Stars League matches are held. The capacity of the stadium is 40,000 (20,000 after the World Cup).

General information

Arena capacity: 40,000 spectators (20,000 after the World Cup)

Address: Al Wakrah, Qatar

GPS coordinates for the navigator: 25°09′35.2″N 51°34′26.7″E

Year of construction: 2014–2019

Construction cost: €587.3 million

Field: grass lawn with dimensions of 105 x 68 m

Seating plan of Al Wakrah Stadium

When choosing a place in the stadium, use the following Al Wakrah Stadium scheme.

Design and facilities

The stadium was designed by Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid and her architectural firm Zaha Hadid Architects. Zaha Hadid Architects said that “The stadium was designed in conjunction with a new precinct so that it sits at the heart of an urban extension of the city, creating community-based activities in and around the stadium on non-event days”.

According to the designers, it was inspired by the sails of traditional Dhow boats, which were used by pearl divers from the region, weaving along the Persian Gulf. The curvilinear roof and exterior resemble the history of Al-Wakrah seafaring, in addition giving viewers the feeling of being on a ship. Bent beams hold up a roof resembling a ship’s hull. The building should resemble inverted dhow hulls located in a cramped area to provide shade and shelter. The roof of the stadium is retractable and made of pleated PTFE fabric and cables, the roof arches are 230 meters long.

Al Zarraa said that the inspiration for the stadium design was the work of international Iraqi designer Zaha Hadid. Its design is concentrated on imitating the natural and Qatari culture, which is manifested in the image of dhow boats that were used by the ancient ancestors during daily dives and pearl dives.

The cooling system prevents the stadium’s users from overheating due to the hot and dry climate of Qatar. It is capable of cooling the spectator zones to 18°C, and the playing field to 20°C. According to Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), “detailed microclimate analysis informed the arena’s shape, with aerodynamics and optimal shading from the roof, which incorporates a minimal amount of glass, making a significant contribution to temperature control”.

Al Zarraa stated the steel structure of the stadium, which consists of 32 parts and weighs more than 9,000 tons, was one of the biggest challenges facing the project, as one part took a month and a half from its design in Italy and its production in China and South Korea. It was then transferred to Italy to ensure the standards before being transported to Doha for dyeing and moving on to the final stage of the installation, which took ten months to install the whole structure.

Regarding workers’ care, Al Zarraa said SC was interested from the very beginning on passing the workers’ care assessment in four different stages in accordance with the international requirements and standards. Contracts on the care of workers with the local and international contractors have also been signed.

The Al-Wakra Stadium project employs more than 5,000 workers, where they work around the clock using three shifts, each of which works for eight hours. Each employee is allowed to work on a shift with an hour break. The stadium exceeded 20 million hours of work.
The sports complex includes a multifunctional hall with pools and spas and a shopping center with green roofs.

History

Qatar was chosen as the venue for the 2022 Fifa World Cup in 2010. This is the first country with a Muslim majority and the first country in the Middle East to host the World Cup. Qatar did not previously have sports opportunities for the Cup.

The stadium was inaugurated on May 16, 2019, during the Amir Cup final between Al-Sadd SC and Al- Duhail SC played in front of an audience of 38,678 people. The Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, attended this match.