Construction cranes tower high into the al-Khobar skyline offering the first visual clue from the road that something of magnitude is being created on the ground far below. There’s a buzz of activity around Aramco Stadium’s site offices on King Saud Bin Abdulaziz Road in the Eastern Province city of al-Khobar.

The 47,000 capacity world-class Aramco Stadium is taking shape. Its unique and intricate design plans are starting to crystalize, and Aramco and its people are proving once again that no task is too challenging, too big.The sounds of machines and civil construction fill the air, while inside a huge cross-sectioned scale model of what Aramco Stadium will look like when it is completed in late 2026, serves as a reminder to Aramco’s team of exactly what they are working toward.

For them, it’s an exciting challenge.

The project will see Aramco deliver a turnkey stadium to the Eastern Province and to the Kingdom, capable of hosting the AFC Asian Cup in early 2027 and globally momentous sporting events thereafter. It will also become an organic part of the community fabric and a talisman for community engagement and healthy pursuits. In addition, the stadium will deploy temperature cooling management technology that will maintain an optimal and comfortable visitor experience.

When complete, it will be more than a stadium — it will be a destination.

An emblem of progress

As such it will be emblematic of the Kingdom’s progress and future goals under Saudi Vision 2030. The company  is relishing this fresh challenge, which, when finished, will be a landmark for generations. That vision places high stock on the well-being and availability of healthy and engaging activities for Saudi Arabia’s population.

Multifunctional

Aramco Stadium will be multifunctional and will boast state-of-the-art amenities, and conform to the highest standards to ensure inclusiveness, safety, and sustainability. 

Blending the international with the local

The project is unique in that Aramco Stadium involves the blending of rigorous international standards with local relevance. This isn’t the first time Aramco has embraced the challenge of delivering a world-class stadium. If we cast our minds to 2014, the company unveiled during a memorable inauguration ceremony, King Abdullah Sports City (KASC) in Jiddah. That stadium — with a capacity for 60,000 people — is known as the Shining Jewel, or Al-Jawhara.

Localization and knowledge transfer

Underpinning this process was Aramco’s commitment to localization and knowledge transfer. The engineering phase was split between a globally renowned engineering office and a Saudi-based office. In addition, the appointed construction joint venture consists of an international and a local partner to help build capabilities. For the delivery team, a dedicated yet diversified blend and composition was required, one where value could be added during execution and where resilience would be reflected throughout the project’s challenges. A team of male and female project engineers with various backgrounds and experiences can be seen on the project site.