The King Abdullah Sports City Stadium is a sports stadium in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and one of the fifteen stadiums that will host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. Nicknamed the Shining Jewel or the Jewel due to its design, it was built in 2014. The planned renovations aim to fulfill the FIFA requirements while preserving its aesthetic features. It is also a component of King Abdullah Sport City in Jeddah Governorate, and hosts major sports matches and events supervised by the Ministry of Sport.
King Abdullah Sports City Stadium inauguration
King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud inaugurated the stadium in 2014, with a capacity of up to sixty thousand seats and partially shaded bleachers. The stadium is located about three km from King Abdulaziz International Airport. The stadium comprises six main levels. The first level is dedicated to maintenance operation management and player services, whereas the second level is devoted to stadium management, journalists' lounges, and ticket outlets. It is also an entrance to the Royal Lounge and the VIP Lounge. The third level is the main entrance for all fans to the stadium's stands and the rest of their assigned areas. The first match hosted at the stadium was the final of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Cup between al-Ahli Club of Jeddah and al-Shabab Club of Riyadh, ending with the latter’s victory and winning the tournament’s trophy.
Facilities surrounding the stadium
There are several facilities and installations around the stadium, notably the ten-thousand-seat indoor sports hall, the athletics track, five ground tennis courts, six auxiliary football pitches, luxury VIP halls and suites, 45,000 car parks, outdoor plazas, a mosque, restaurants, and gardens.
Uses of the stadium
Alongside football matches, the stadium is used for official celebrations and major sports and cultural contests, including hosting the WWE tournament and the Jeddah Open International Chess Championship.
Supervising the construction of the stadium
Saudi Aramco oversaw the construction and design of the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, and the stadium derives its general design from the shape of a jewel. The design details are inspired by the historical legacy of Jeddah City, resembling mashrabiyas or al-rawashin, the old wooden windows used to decorate building facades in historical Jeddah and other cities.
In 2013, the Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services began extending road networks inside and outside King Abdullah Sport City, enabling entering and exiting from the stadium via several routes, such as the al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Road and al-Haramain Road. A total of fourteen concrete bridges were built leading to the stadium, in addition to four bridges over valleys.
King Abdullah Sport City Stadium Statistics
- Current Status: Existing, under renovation.
- Expected Completion Date: 2032.
- Total Capacity: 58,432 spectators.
- 2034 FIFA World Cup stages to be hosted: Group stage, Round of 32, Round of 16, and Quarter-finals.
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