Al Thumama Stadium by Fenwick Iribarren and Arab Engineering Bureau

The Al Zumama Stadium or Al Thumama Stadium is one of the official soccer stadiums of the 2022 Soccer World Cup. With a capacity of forty thousand people, the stadium is located in the town of Al Thumama, on the outskirts of Doha, Qatar and is connected to the city through the metro system.

The inauguration of the stadium took place on October 22, 2021, in the evening, when the Al Thumama Stadium hosted the Amir Cup final between Al Rayyan and Al Sadd.

Other recently completed stadiums for the tournament include the Lusail Stadium by Foster + Partners, the Al Thumama Stadium by Ibrahim M Jaidah, Stadium 974 by Fenwick Iribarren Architects and the Al Wakrah by Zaha Hadid.

The Stadium was designed by a team consisting of Fenwick Iribarren, AEB Arab Engineering Bureau, Schlaich Bergermann Partners and Hilson Moran. The façade is based on Islamic patterns, its shape resembles an Arab headdress known as a gahfiya, a garment worn by young Qataris. The rhomboid fibreglass pieces used on the façade and roof alternate in translucent and opaque versions to control light entry during the day.

The capacity will be reduced to 20,000 spectators after the World Cup, eliminating the upper tier.

Al Thumama Stadium by Fenwick Iribarren and Arab Engineering Bureau. Photograph courtesy of Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy.

Project description by Fenwick Iribarren Architects

Fenwick Iribarren together with AEB Arab Engineering Bureau, Schlaich Bergermann Partners and Hilson Moran were commissioned by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy to design a Stadium which will be one of the venues to host matches for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup. The Stadium is currently envisioned for group, knockout and quarter-final matches during the Tournament with a capacity for 40.000 spectators. The Stadium´s capacity will be reduced to 20.000 following the World Cup by dismantling the upper tier.

The main objective is that the Stadium becomes a major reference for sports buildings in Qatar & a Cultural legacy for people living in the neighbourhood, contributing to a healthier society and a leisure space in Qatar.

The Al Thumama Stadium concept is based on the Ghafiyah, which forms part of the typical Qatari headpiece worn by men across the region. Following the World Cup the Stadium will house a multipurpose pavilion, Aquatic Centre, Boutique Hotel, Mosque, and 2 local teams will use the Stadium in the Legacy Mode.

Site plan. Al Thumama Stadium by Fenwick Iribarren and Arab Engineering Bureau.

Grounf floor and roof plan. Al Thumama Stadium by Fenwick Iribarren and Arab Engineering Bureau.

Elevation and sections. Al Thumama Stadium by Fenwick Iribarren and Arab Engineering Bureau.

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More information

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Architects

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Ibrahim M. Jaidah (Arab Engineering Bureau). Fenwick Iribarren Architects.

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Collaborators

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Structural engineer.- Schlaich Bergermann Partners, Thornton Tomasetti.
Services engineer.- JAIN consultants (Jain and Partners, Dubai).

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Client

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Q22 Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy.

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General Contractor

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General contractor.- Al Jaber Engineering. Tekfen Construction.

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Dimensions

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Capacity.- 44.400.
Plot area.- 514,016m²
Gross Floor Area.- 114,927m²

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Dates

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Start.- 2015.
Term.- 2021.
Opening.- October 22, 2021.

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Location

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(25°14′06″N 51°31′56″E). Doha, Qatar.

Ibrahim M. Jaidah Arab Engineering Bureau

Arab Engineering Bureau. Architecture firm based in Doha, founded in 1966. The firm is led by Ibrahim Jaidah since 1991. AEB had created, planned, executed and completed over 1500 projects for a broad range of client sectors, in a vast scope of services globally. AEB has grown to a company of over 600 staff.

Mark Fenwick, Javier Iribarren. Fenwick Iribarren Architects

Fenwick Iribarren Architects was founded in 1990 by Mark Fenwick and Javier Iribarren architects, 1990. Their most important works and their experience have led them to be recognized experts in the area of sports construction and stadiums. In addition, Fenwick Iribarren has been responsible for the Fifth Tower as well as co-authors of Torre Espacio, Madrid.

In recent years, the studio has become one of the leading studios with experience in building stadiums, after building the new RCD Espanyol stadium, winner of the 2010 Stadium Business Award for the best stadium of the year and the Best First Division Stadium. Spanish Division 2013, in addition to being used as a centre for the UEFA KISS conferences.

Other relevant projects include the new Valencia stadium for 75,000 spectators; the blueprint for the Norwegian National Stadium; and the New National Stadium for Gibraltar and three stadiums for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, including the Qatar Foundation Stadium, which has a totally unique cooling system.

Fenwick Iribarren Architects has a multidisciplinary team structure, it is also one of the first expert architecture studios in the Commercial and Leisure markets. Among its most important projects in this area are the El Portet de Denia, Alegra, Diversia, Nassica Shopping Centers, and the expansion of Parquesur.