Khalifa International Stadium (Doha)

Khalifa International Stadium, also known as National Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium in Doha, Qatar, as part of the Doha Sports City complex, which also includes Aspire Academy, Hamad Aquatic Centre, and the Aspire Tower. It is named after Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, Qatar’s former Emir. The final of 2011 AFC Asian Cup was held at this stadium. The stadium is also the first completed venue to host a part of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. In 2017, it received a four-star rating from the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS), the first in the world to be awarded this rating.

General information

Arena capacity: 40,000 spectators

Address: Al Waab St, Doha, Qatar

GPS coordinates for the navigator: 25°15′49″N 51°26′53″E

Year of construction: 1976

Construction cost: $240-280 million

Field: grass lawn

Seating plan of Khalifa International Stadium

When choosing a place in the stadium, use the following Khalifa International Stadium scheme.

How to get there?

Khalifa International Stadium is located in the west of Doha at roughly 10 kilometres from central Doha (e.g. the Souq Waqif and Corniche), and 18 kilometres from The Pearl development further north.

The stadium is best reached by taxi.

Where to eat?

Khalifa International Stadium is part of a large development including Qatar’s other Olympic sports facilities (e.g. an aquatics centre and indoor hall), the large Villaggio Mall, a park, and the iconic The Torch Doha hotel.

The Villaggio Mall houses multiple restaurants of all types including quite a few international chain restaurants from the likes of Shake Shack, Pizza Express, and TGI Fridays to your regular fast food chains.

If you are looking to stay close to the stadium, you’ve got two hotels to choose from: the before mentioned Torch Doha and the Movenpick Al Aziziyah, though both are in the higher end.

Key features

Innovative and environmentally friendly cooling technology has been installed at Khalifa International Stadium. The technology uses district cooling, air treatment and smart control systems to deliver an optimal environment for spectators and players alike. It is able to lower the temperate within the stadiums to 21 degrees Celsius when outdoor temperatures are around 40 degrees Celsius.

The technology distributes cooled air with the aim of cooling spectator stands, the field and decreasing the amount of hot air entering the stadium through its open roof. These units have been installed in specific locations around the stadium including the field, upper walls and stands of the stadium in accordance to various studies that were conducted during the design process.

Khalifa International Stadium focuses on sustainability as a key element in its design and operation and has achieved a four-star Global Sustainability Assessment System GSAS rating – making it one of the most sustainable stadiums in the region. To obtain GSAS certification, developers must employ leading sustainability practices in the design, construction and operation to minimize a building’s ecological footprint. Khalifa International Stadium’s cooling technology uses an energy recovery system to reduce energy consumption. In addition, the stadium features energy-efficient lighting systems and plumbing fixtures.

Khalifa International Stadium has been completely fitted with natural turf that can withstand the Qatari climate and has the highest resistance. The turf is a hybrid, with one developed by Oklahoma State University in the United States and the other developed locally. Planting it took nine months in Aspire Zone Foundation’s turf nursery until it reached 14mm in length and was ready to transport and install at the stadium, which has a total floor area of 7,848 square metres.

Khalifa International Stadium achieved a new world record for the returfing, completing the project in just 13.5 hours (European standard is 18 hours). More than 80 pieces of equipment and machines were involved in returfing the stadium, carrying 8,250 square meters of natural grass from the turf nursery, located 5-km away from the stadium, and was installed by more than 90 employees and workers. The process started at 5.00 AM on the 16th of April 2017.

In January 2018, the installation of a pink Mondotrack for the main and warm-up tracks at Khalifa International Stadium took place. When the world’s best athletes take the global stage at the IAAF World Championships Doha 2019, it will be on a Mondotrack WS surface and the first ever pink track. Further to the innovative look and feel of the colour, the surface is Greenguard Gold, certified for its low VOC emissions.

History

The stadium opened in 1976. It was renovated and expanded in 2005, before the 2006 Asian Games, to increase its capacity from 20,000 to 40,000 seats. A roof covers the western side of the stadium. The eastern side has a large arch, which was used as a platform to launch fireworks from during the 2006 Asian Games opening ceremony.

Before the 2005 renovation, the stadium was used mostly for association football (soccer) matches, but it is equipped for many other sports. Since 1997, the stadium has hosted the annual Doha Diamond League (previously known by other names) track and field competition. It is the Qatar national football team’s home stadium. The stadium hosted the 2011 Pan Arab Games.

After another redevelopment, the stadium reopened in May 2017.

The stadium was the site of the 2019 World Athletics Championships in September and October of that year.

On 17 December 2019, the stadium was scheduled as the venue of two 2019 FIFA Club World Cup matches: the fifth-place match and the semi-final between the CONMEBOL Libertadores champions and the winner of Match 3.