Qatar Unveils New World Cup Stadium Design

Qatar 2022 has revealed the name and design for a new 60,000-seat stadium in Al Khor, the second of the Gulf state’s World Cup venues to be announced.

The Al Bayt stadium joins Al Wakrah as the first two of about 10 new venues for the FIFA tournament. Foundation work is already underway at Al Wakrah.

Qatar 2022 said early works have now started on Al Bayt, the proposed semifinal venue for World Cup. It is expected to be completed in 2018.

The design, which reflects Qatar’s history and culture, includes an upper tier of removable seats that will be dismantled post-tournament to leave a 32,000-seat stadium in legacy mode.

The seats will be reconfigured and donated to other countries.

Surrounding the stadium, a new entertainment precinct featuring retail space, restaurants and space for local businesses will serve the Al Khor community.

Hassan Al Thawadi, secretary general of Qatar’s delivery and legacy authority, said the launch of the design was "another milestone of progress."

Al Bayt stadium is to be located close to the coast, but will also introduce fans and visitors to the culture of the desert.

The name and design of the stadium is modelled on Bayt Al Sha’ar, a black-and-white tent used traditionally by nomadic people in Qatar and the region.

"For those travelling through the desert, the sight of such a tent on the horizon meant an invitation to receive hospitality," Qatar 2022 explained in a release. "Inside the tent, the red-patterned sadu fabric will represent the traditional Qataritextile design to the international visitors and remind the local community of the heritage and tradition of producing sadu fabric, which is also reflected inside the stadium."

Qatar 2022 was keen to emphasize that construction of Al Bayt stadium and precinct will be carried out "in alignment with the Workers’ Welfare Standards," which it released recently.

Written by Mark Bisson

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