Saleh Fareed

 

JEDDAH  — King Abdullah Football Stadium opens its doors officially to the public on May 1.



According to Essam Tawfiq, General Director of Public Affairs at Aramco, the 60,000-seat King Abdullah Stadium in the 9sq km Jeddah Sports City has been constructed in a record time of 14 months.



He told the media Tuesday that the state of the art stadium is ready to host football matches. “The official opening will be on May 1 when the stadium will host the final of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup.



In addition, we have planned a huge inauguration ceremony, celebrating the official opening,” he added. He also announced that the spectators will be able to witness an exciting show by famous Saudi singers and the ensuing fireworks will add more color to the festive atmosphere.



The King Abdullah Sports City Project consists of a 60,000-seat football Stadium, a 2,000-seat multi-sports hall, an outdoor 1,000-seat athletic stadium, training fields for other sports disciplines, a mosque and parking for 45,000 cars.



The complex will have over 308 seats earmarked for persons with special needs, with separate toilets and elevators for them. The stadium seating system is built on three levels facilitating a clear view of the ground. The roof is covered with special hard cloth with steel mesh to protect spectators from the sun and rain. Advanced technology is in place to control the temperature in the stadium.



The design of the stadium also includes modern features and capabilities, aligned with FIFA requirements, which will help attract regional and international sports and entertainment events.



Although Aramco is known for its oil & gas activities, it has played a key role in other major construction projects in Saudi Arabia, including King Abdullah University for Science & Technology.