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Designed by a Qatari architect, the Al Thumama stadium in Doha will host a World Cup quarter final match and will be capable of accommodating around 40,000 people. (Image: Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy)
Qatar plans to construct a stadium that looks like a traditional knitted “gahfiya” Arabian cap for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, revealed the event’s organisers on Sunday (20 August) in a report by Reuters.
“This symbolic design embodies everything that unites us as Arabs and Muslims, and is a fitting tribute to the first FIFA World Cup in the Middle East,” said Hassan al-Thawadi, the head of Qatar’s World Cup committee.
Designed by a Qatari architect, the Al Thumama stadium in Doha will host a World Cup quarter final match and will be capable of accommodating around 40,000 people.
It is among at least eight air-conditioned stadiums and infrastructure projects, including a new subway system and port, being built at a total cost of US$200 billion (S$273 billion).
Notably, Qatar is going ahead with preparations to host the prestigious World Cup, despite a diplomatic spat with neighbouring Arab countries.
In June, the middle east countries of UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt accused Qatar of supporting terrorism. Although the Doha government denies this, its neighbours imposed sanctions such as cutting political ties, expelling Qatari nationals, and closing access via land, sea and air.
To circumvent this, Qatar has chartered ships via Oman to transport construction materials needed for World Cup facilities, while foodstuffs are being airlifted from Iran and Turkey.
Furthermore, the gulf state has refuted reports that the sanctions imposed by its neighbours have led to lower tourist arrivals and hotel occupancy levels.
This article was edited by Denise Djong.
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