Construction starts on Aramco Stadium

Article posted by Coliseum, September 4^th, 2024

Image: BESIX

Building work has kicked off on the Aramco Stadium project in Saudi Arabia, which is expected to mark a significant step towards achieving the Kingdom’s vision of excellence in sports infrastructure.

Besix said the design and build contract brings it together with AlBawani under the skilled leadership and project management expertise of Aramco.

The company is ideally positioned to oversee the complex project, which has a challenging timeline, and deliver it by 2026.

Designed to accommodate approximately 47,000 spectators, the Aramco Stadium is expected to provide more than just an electrifying atmosphere for sports and entertainment – it is also envisioned as a hub for community engagement.

The stadium, set to be completed in time for the 2027 Asian Football Confederation Cup, underscores Saudi Arabia’s ambition to foster a vibrant sports culture.

It will be fully compliant with FIFA’s stadium requirements, meaning it would qualify to host World Cup matches up to the quarter-final stage.

Aramco Stadium is one of a number of Populous-designed venues included in the official list of potential venues for the 2034 FIFA World Cup™, as published in the Saudi Arabia bid book on 31 July.

Populous has led the design of the stadium from the initial concept stage and will continue to oversee the project until its completion.

The stadium and surrounding masterplan will be built over an area of approximately 800,000 square metres.

The stadium will feature an extensive range of advanced facilities, including general admission areas, VIP/VVIP hospitality sections, player accommodations, media facilities, training pitches, parking facilities, an energy center that is expected to supply power and cooling, and extensive road and landscape developments.

Operating in the Middle East since 1966, Besix is a leading Belgian group from Brussels, with a strong presence and a proven track record of successfully delivering sophisticated projects in the Gulf Cooperation Council region.

Leveraging decades of global experience in stadium construction, Besix brings its renowned expertise from constructing monumental stadiums, including the King Abdullah International Stadium in King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah – a 60,000-seat world-class stadium; the Al Janoub Stadium and the renovation of the Khalifa Stadium, both in Qatar; the Queensland County Bank Stadium in Australia; and the Te Kaha Christchurch Stadium in New Zealand, currently under construction.

Peter Lembrechts, General Manager of Besix Middle East, said: “Our strategic entry into Saudi Arabia is driven by BESIX’s exceptional engineering capabilities, which have been demonstrated time and again in our successful delivery of complex design and build projects across the region.

“With a focus on excellence and innovation, we are dedicated to creating transformative spaces like the Aramco Stadium that not only meet the highest standards, but also serve as symbols of unity.”

Operating in Saudi Arabia since 1991, AlBawani Holding Company has evolved into a prominent force in the construction and infrastructure sectors.

Fakher AlShawaf, GCEO of AlBawani Holding, said: “As AlBawani embarks on the construction of the revolutionary Aramco Stadium, we mark a transformative milestone in our legacy of pioneering top-tier sports facilities in Saudi Arabia.

“Guided by Aramco’s visionary leadership and in partnership with our esteemed collaborator Besix, the project epitomizes innovation and excellence in sports infrastructure. We plan to leverage AlBawani’s deep-rooted local expertise, cutting-edge construction technology, and unparalleled track record of delivering complex projects on time and within budget.

“At AlBawani, our commitment to engineering excellence and transformative design is anticipated to ensure that the Aramco Stadium will set a new benchmark for quality and innovation in sports facilities.”

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