Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Al Rayyan. It was previously known as Al-Rayyan Stadium, home of Al Rayyan SC. But the whole stadium was rebuilt recently for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2022.
The stadium is located on the eastern edge of the Doha metropolitan area, in the suburb of Al Rayyan. The municipality is only 20 kilometers west of central Doha. The stadium is also referred to as the “Gateway to the Desert”. It is named after Ahmad bin Ali Al Thani, a former Emir of Qatar.
The former stadium was built in 2003 with a 21,282 seating capacity. Although originally planned to be kept as Al-Rayyan, decisions were scraped to renovate it in 2014. Following the decision, demolition began in September 2014. Architects presented the new stadium design in April 2015. It was scheduled to be opened in 2019. But due to complications, the committee postponed it to the end of 2020.
Currently, the rebuilt stadium has a capacity of 50,000 seats. It has a huge media façade with an area of 39,000 square meters. It will project news, commercials, sports updates, and current tournament information on the screen. The top of the low tier contains VIP Zones. The stadium officially opened on 19 December 2020. Its debut match was the Amir Cup Final between Al-Sadd and Al-Arabi (2-1).
Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium Information
| Full Name | Ahmad bin Ali Stadium |
| Location | Umm Al Afaei, Al Rayyan, Qatar |
| Architect | Pattern Design |
| Capacity | 50,000 |
| Construction Began | 30 September 2014 |
| Stadium Opened | 18 December 2020 |
| Structural Engineer | Schlaich Bergemann Partner (steel), Matejko & Wesoły Biuro (concrete) |
| Contractors | Al-Balagh and Larsen & Toubro |
Facts about the Stadium
- Ahmad Bin Ali stadium is the 4th stadium ready for the global showcase of FIFA World Cup 2020 in Qatar.
- The stadium is a 30-min drive from Doha.
- Its design choices symbolize the importance of family, the beauty of the desert, native flora and fauna, and local and international trade in Qatar.
- The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy was awarded Stadium Design of the Year for this stadium in the 2016 Stadium Congress.
- The stadium will host 6 group matches and a round-16 match during World Cup 2022.
- The stadium utilizes environment-friendly cooling technology. The technology has a cooling capacity of 16,000 tons.
- The venue is 20% more energy and water-efficient compared to other venues of its tier.
2022 FIFA World Cup in the Stadium
| Date | Time (AST/UTC+3) | Match |
| 21 November | 22:00 | United States vs. Wales |
| 23 November | 22:00 | Belgium vs. Canada |
| 25 November | 13:00 | Wales vs. Iran |
| 27 November | 13:00 | Japan vs. Costa Rica |
| 29 November | 22:00 | Wales vs. England |
| 1 December | 18:00 | Croatia vs. Belgium |
| 3 December | 22:00 | Winner Gr.C vs. Runners-up Gr.D |
The stadium is planned to modify moderately following the completion of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The seating capacity will be reduced back to its original count, of 21,000 seats. The extra seats and the temporary upper area will be dismantled and handed over to other sports venues in Qatar and abroad.
The area around the stadium will be reorganized as a recreational center. The center will contain a total of six football fields, a cricket field, and a horse-riding track. The stadium from then onwards will hold regional sports.
- Related: Al-Thumama Stadium
