qatar’s al wakrah stadium, the 2022 world cup venue designed by the late zaha hadid, is on track to open later in 2018. the 40,000 capacity arena, which will host games up to the soccer tournament’s quarter-finals stage, was first unveiled back in 2013. as of late 2017, the stadium’s bespoke roof pillars have been installed, while concrete pouring has been completed. located just 15 kilometers (9 miles) south of doha, the arena’s form is said to resemble the sails of the region’s dhow boats.

zaha hadid al wakrah stadium qatar
image courtesy of supreme committee for delivery & legacy | zaha hadid architects
video courtesy of the supreme committee for delivery & legacy

 

 

located in one of qatar’s oldest continuously inhabited areas, the zaha hadid-designed venue has been described as ‘an extraordinary stadium for an adventurous city’. the supreme committee for delivery & legacy (SC) — the organization responsible for delivering the stadiums and infrastructure for the 2022 FIFA world cup — also promise that ‘supporters will also find plenty to do before and after matches, whether it’s taking a stroll along the waterfront, buying unique local wares at the souq, or discovering the area’s rich history at a museum.’

zaha hadid al wakrah stadium qatar
the 40,000 capacity arena will host games up to the tournament’s quarter-finals stage
image courtesy of supreme committee for delivery & legacy

 

 

the stadium will also have a retractable roof that will be able to close in approximately 30 minutes. a light sleeve, made of steel wires brought together at an oculus, will also provide shade to the entire pitch and contribute to the efficiency of the cooling system before the match. resembling curved hockey sticks, a series of 540-tonne pillars are the main support for the arena’s retractable roof. the roof steel elements for the columns originated in china and were fabricated in italy and later shipped to qatar.

zaha hadid al wakrah stadium qatar
columns going up around the stadium
image courtesy of supreme committee for delivery & legacy

 

 

the venue will also comprise schools, a wedding hall, tennis courts, basketball courts, restaurants, a swimming pool, gyms, and marketplaces — amenities designed to be used by the community for years to come. after the tournament, the region’s local team — al wakrah sports club — will stadium the venue as its new home. a reduced capacity of 20,000 hopes to ensure an ‘electric atmosphere’ for the club’s qatar stars league matches. the other 20,000 seats will be donated to football development projects overseas.

zaha hadid al wakrah stadium qatar
seating areas are under construction
image courtesy of supreme committee for delivery & legacy

 

 

‘the fact that the design of this stadium will bring the late zaha hadid’s vision from the paper into structural form is in the back of everyone’s mind,’ thani al zarraa, SC project manager at al wakrah stadium. ‘it is both a privilege and a challenge to be working on such a unique project, which combines elements of our cultural heritage in the form of the dhow boat with the architect’s iconic structures.’

zaha hadid al wakrah stadium qatar
the arena is more than 25% complete
image courtesy of supreme committee for delivery & legacy