KING FAHD STADIUM (KSA)

The stadium’s capacity will be increased to 70,200 spectators, with future plans to increase capacity to more than 90,000 spectators to meet the growing demand for major tournaments. it is one of 15…

The stadium’s capacity will be increased to 70,200 spectators, with future plans to increase capacity to more than 90,000 spectators to meet the growing demand for major tournaments. it is one of 15 stadiums that will be prepared to host matches of the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia. The design features a roof inspired by a traditional Arabian tent, blending heritage and modernity. This design will be updated to meet modern standards while preserving its distinct cultural identity.

Context

King Fahad Sports City Stadium opened in 1987 in Riyadh as one of the region's first major stadiums and has long been the home of the Saudi national football team, hosting events like the FIFA Confederations Cup and AFC Champions League finals. Designed by Populous for the Saudi Ministry of Sports, the project modernizes one of the Kingdom's most iconic sporting landmarks while demonstrating how large-scale stadium redevelopment can be delivered through a sustainability-led approach. It's one of 15 stadiums being prepared to host matches for the 2034 FIFA World Cup in Saudi Arabia, and the client is the Ministry of Sport.

Concept

The renovation is built around preserving the stadium's identity rather than replacing it outright. The renovation preserves the stadium's status as a national landmark while adapting it to meet the demands of contemporary sport and entertainment, focusing on retaining and enhancing key elements of the existing structure. The original roof — famous for its tent-like silhouette echoing traditional Arabian design — had reached the end of its operational life, so a new canopy was conceived to carry that same heritage identity forward using modern materials and engineering. A new 36,000-square-metre cable-net roof canopy provides extensive shade across the seating bowl and surrounding podium while reinforcing the stadium's recognizable architectural form. Key heritage elements — the existing East Stand and the iconic Hive structure and royal hospitality areas on the west side — are being preserved to maintain the venue's character.

Delivery

Design Review

  • Reviewed Populous's architectural and structural design submissions against Saudi building codes and FIFA stadium requirements.

  • Carried out detailed review of the new roof design — the 36,000 sqm cable-net canopy — to confirm structural feasibility, load compliance, and alignment with structural feasibility studies.

  • Reviewed environmental design solutions (the deployable terrace covers and displacement cooling system) for performance and integration with other building systems.

Design Coordination

  • Coordinated across disciplines (architectural, structural, MEP), particularly around critical clash zones such as the excavation for the new lower seating tier (approximately 10 metres below ground) and its interface with existing infrastructure.

  • Coordinated the reuse strategy for existing structural elements (masts and cables repurposed into the new photovoltaic shading structures) between the design team and construction team.

  • Managed a unified BIM model across all disciplines to identify and resolve clashes before construction.

Impact

  • Successfully completed the mechanical design review, coordination, and construction supervision scope, with all MEP mechanical packages validated and approved prior to installation.

  • Delivered coordinated mechanical drawings, clash-free BIM models, and commissioning reports for the cooling and ventilation systems.

  • Supported on-time handover of mechanical systems as part of the stadium's readiness for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup and 2034 FIFA World Cup.