Populous Unveils Eruptive Design for King Salman Stadium in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. The kingdom unveiled their ambitious plan with the released official Saudi Arabia Bid Book, outlining their vision and strategy. 

According to the plan, Saudi Arabia looks to erect 11 new stadiums in addition to refurbishing four already-existing venues. The country's proposed cities for this event include Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar, Abha and the yet-unbuilt NEOM. The plan also involves the addition of 134 training sites across the country, with 73 newly-built facilities.

Inspired by the cracks of the earth, the stadium rises organically from the landscape, seamlessly blending with its surroundings and the adjacent King Abdulaziz Park. Its design embraces sustainability, merging community spaces with the sports hub and presenting a thoughtful vision for urban planning. 

Roof gardens and walking paths, stretching from the ground to the top of the stadium, offer panoramic, lush views of the nearby park, while also serving as eco-friendly cooling solutions for the design. With adaptability at its core, the masterplan’s flowing, continuous lines and pathways enable the spaces to effortlessly transition between major events and daily activities. 

Unfolding at the centre, the main stadium features a seating bowl designed to meet international FIFA standards while maintaining a compact form, ensuring an optimal and intimate spectator experience. With a gross seating capacity exceeding 92,000, the stadium offers a range of amenities, including a Royal Box, hospitality skyboxes and lounges, 300 VVIP seats, and 2,200 VIP seats, making it the largest in the Kingdom. 

To keep the facility vibrant and relevant throughout the year, the plan incorporates not just the main stadium, but also an athletics stadium, a training camp with additional training pitches, a community sports park, an aquatics center, and multi-purpose sports halls, all aimed at encouraging increased engagement and participation. 

Photography Credit: Populous