Doha: Ras Abu Aboud Stadium, one of the stadiums to host matches of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, is a pioneering project in the field of stadiums, being the first in the history of the World Cup, which can be entirely dismantled. In addition, it will have a truly unique design, featuring shipping containers to create an extraordinary building block effect.
Constructed using shipping containers, removable seats and other modular "building blocks", not only will this innovative, 40,000-seat venue have a remarkable design, but it will be entirely dismantled and repurposed after the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Its parts will be used in other sporting or projects in in poor countries, in coordination with FIFA, to set a new standard in sustainability and introduce bold new ideas in tournament legacy planning.
Ras Abu Aboud Stadium Project Manager, in the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (CS), Mohammed Al Mulla stressed that Ras Abu Aboud will be the first in the world that will be completely dismantled, adding that the Stadium's parts will be repurposed, where they can be used in building two 20,000-seat stadiums or even in building non-sporting projects, such as administrative building or multi-use hall.
In an interview with QNA, Al Mulla said that studies and research have led to the use of environmentally friendly and at the same time easy and reusable components in the construction of Ras Abu Aboud Stadium, where concrete will be used only in foundations, while the outer structure will be made of iron and shipping containers.
He said the Ras Abu Aboud stadium would be a precedent that would revolutionize stadium design for future World Cup hosting countries, as it is based on a new way of thinking and creativity in construction, that shortens construction time and lowers Construction cost.
Al Mulla explained that the reason for building a stadium with these specifications and dismantling it after the World Cup is that Qatar does not need eight 40,000-seat stadiums, in addition to the fact that the local league does not need all these stadiums. So the idea was to build the Ras Abu Aboud Stadium, which could benefit other countries in the future.
He added that alongside the legacy that Ras Abu Aboud Stadium can make by re-purposing it in another country, there will be an important legacy for Qatar in the infrastructure of sewage networks, roads, water and power station, which will create an infrastructure for any future development in the area.
Located on the shores of the Gulf, looking across to Doha's dazzling West Bay skyline, Ras Abu Aboud Stadium will be a spectacular venue for matches up to the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Mohammed Al Mulla said that works of the stadium officially began at the end of 2017 and will be completed by the end of 2020.
He revealed that more than 2 million labour hours have been completed at the stadium so far and will reach 4.5 million labor hours by the completion of the stadium, pointing out that the number of workers in the project varies according to the construction stages. The current plan is based on 1,700 workers, he added.
Al Mulla went on saying that works of concrete foundations for the stadium has been completed, while works are underway on the infrastructure, especially with regard to sewage networks and other facilities. The coming period will see a significant increase in work with installing the steel structure and shipping containers that will form the building blocks of this stadium.
The project manager explained that the plan for the stadium is to have three roads for the spectators to reach the Stadium, two of them are ready and building the third is underway.
The Ras Abu Aboud Stadium project achieves the goal of sustainability and heritage by 100% in terms of stadiums design revolution, the future project and plan to dismantle it and the area development.
Al Mullah revealed that the construction time of the stadium will be shorter, which makes the cost of construction less through the use of less building materials, which will inevitably mean less waste on site, with lower carbon emissions, considering that to be a true victory in realizing the equation of quality construction on one side and sustainability and heritage on the other.
About 100 containers and 27 thousand tons of steel will be used in the construction of the stadium, Al Mulla said pointing out that the method of installation of containers or iron planned from the first day. He explained that all the parts are number coded to ease the operations of dismantling the Stadium and reusing them in other projects
Following the tournament's conclusion, the stadium will be dismantled and make way for a waterfront development for local people to enjoy.