Doha, November 09 (QNA) – In its journey to host the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the State of Qatar established eight stadiums that celebrate fans and football in history, present and future. One of Qatar’s World Cup masterpieces is “Al Thumama Stadium” whose dynamic design celebrates the Qatari and Arab culture while presenting a new era of architecture.
The unique ring-shaped design depicts the traditional ‘gahfiya’ head cap worn by boys and men in Qatar and across the Arab world as a symbol of dignity and independence, and pride in the authentic Arab and Islamic traditions.
The 40,000-capacity stadium is 12 km from the heart of Doha. It represents a milestone in celebrating the authentic traditions both in its design and its name “Al Thumama” which took the name of “Thumam”, an indigenous plant.
Al Thumama stadium is a legacy for future generations through its durability, modern technologies and the materials used in construction. The Stadium was designed by Qatari architect Ibrahim Al Jaida, who gave the stadium a Qatari symbol in the form of the ‘gahfiya’ to remain immortal in the minds of fans who will come from around the world to follow the World Cup on a stadium that celebrates the common heritage of Qatar, the Gulf and the Arab region.
Al Thumama Stadium is a distinctive architectural masterpiece that appears even in the Qatari airspace, prompting the visitor to get a closer look to this distinguished landmark.
Al Thumama Stadium affirms Qatar’s commitment to effective sustainability. The stadium, which was inaugurated in 2021, is one of the stadiums whose seats will be reduced to help countries without a sports infrastructure.
The stadium was built on an area of 515,400 square meters, and includes a large range of different offices, in addition to 4 outdoor playgrounds equipped with the latest technology for the purpose of training only.
Al Thumama Stadium will benefit the community in the first place as a multi-purpose facility, both at the level of buildings and at the level of the stadium, which will be reduced to 20,000 thousand seats only instead of 40,000 seats. After the tournament, the Stadium will offer a place for practicing sports for residents of the area.
The stadium was tested at the level of public attendance and operation of the facility in the final match of HH the Amir Cup between Al Sadd and Al Rayyan in October 2021.
The stadium will host eight World Cup matches, starting with Senegal and the Netherlands November 21. It will host six group-stage matches along with a Round-of-16 match and one quarter-final.
The stadium is located in an area close to the Doha Metro Red Line, which will be a major means of transport for the World Cup fans.
The environmentally friendly stadium received a five-star rating from the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS), which is administered by the Gulf Organization for Research & Development (GORD). The prestigious award is considered a mark of excellence in sustainability, design, and construction.
The stadium offers modern technology for the media, as well as a lot of amenities for fans with special needs. The stadium includes special entrances to the fans with special needs and dedicated seats in the most distinctive corner of the stadium. The stadium also features large spaces for fans to cheer and easy access to seats through multiple gates.
Al Thumama Stadium has one of the largest fan activity spaces, in addition to different facilities, multiple halls, workplaces for media outlets and rooms for ambulance staff. (QNA)