AECOM to oversee redevelopment of Riyadh’s King Fahd Sports City Stadium

Global infrastructure company AECOM has announced a continuation of its collaboration with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Sport that will see it provide supervision consultancy services at Riyadh’s King Fahd Sports City Stadium.

In preparation for the hosting of the 2027 Asian Cup and the 2034 FIFA World Cup, AECOM will oversee the transformation of the stadium, which will have its capacity expanded to 70,000.

AECOM Hunt - which has managed the construction of a range of major venues in the USA including Intuit Dome, Lucas Oil Stadium, Mercedes-Benz Stadium and SoFi Stadium - will serve as a key consulting partner in the stadium’s transformation.

Announcing the collaboration, AECOM President, Lara Poloni stated “as Saudi Arabia accelerates towards the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, we’re proud to deepen our collaboration with the Ministry of Sport on this iconic project.

“Around the world, strategic investments in infrastructure are driving growth and resilience, and this transformation reflects how sport can be a powerful catalyst for creating opportunity and improving communities.”

Hamad Zaghw, Chief Executive of AECOM’s Middle East and Africa region, added “our collaboration with the Ministry of Sport highlights AECOM’s commitment to delivering world-class infrastructure.

“By leveraging our expertise from major international events like the 2022 Qatar World Cup, the 2012 global sporting event in London and 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, combined with AECOM Hunt’s construction management experience on some of the world’s most renowned sports facilities, we are proud to contribute to transforming the King Fahd Sports City into a global benchmark.”

Since opening in 1987, King Fahd Sport City has played a central role in Saudi sports culture. Following the upgrades to the King Fahd Sports City Stadium it will be the largest stadium used during the Asian Cup.

The largest proposed stadium for the 2034 World Cup is the new 92,000-capacity King Salman Stadium in Riyadh.

Saudi stadium projects opened for private investment
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Sport has launched a new Sports Facilities Investment project, which will offer private investment opportunities for three stadiums projects: King Abdullah Sports City and Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City in Jeddah, and King Abdulaziz Sports City in Makkah.

Private entities have been invited to invest in the venues with renewable five-year contracts. Investment opportunities will cover naming rights, leasing stadiums to sports clubs and other entities on non-match days, and the operation, management and maintenance of the facilities.

The Ministry advised that the launch of the Sports Facilities Investment initiative is in accordance with modern operational models for stadiums.

Images: Riyadh’s King Fahd Sports City Stadium. Credit: Saudi Arabian Ministry of Sport.