Summary
Al-Thumama Stadium is a football stadium situated in Al Thumama, Qatar. Qatar supreme committee has built the venue for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2022. It is also the closest located to Hamad International Airport.
The venue is located in the southwest part of Doha, in the Al Thumama district. It is only 12 km away from the City Center. The district is a relatively bland residential neighborhood. Previously, the place was elected to build an underground football arena named “The Wall Stadium”. But later, the committee canceled the plan and redesigned it with FIFA 2022 in mind.
Architects submitted plans for the stadium back in 2015. In 2016, the construction company began the preparatory work. Official construction began in March of the following year. Originally planned to open in 2020, the supreme committee pushed it back to next year. The arena finally opened on October 22, 2021. With final match of the Amir Cup, the venue made its debut.
The stadium has a perfect circular build despite the football layout inside. Designers took inspiration for the façade and roof from Ghafiya, a traditional Arabic head garment. The 43-meter-high roof is snow white. Its auditorium has two levels. A row of business boxes separates them.
Currently, the stadium boasts a 40,000-seat capacity. It uses solar-powered air-cooling technology. The cooling system can easily keep the inner temperature around 18 degrees Celsius during games. The venue contains 54 air treatment units, that work on improving air quality in the arena.
Al Thumama Stadium Information
| Full Name | Al Thumama Stadium |
| Location | Al Thumama, Qatar |
| Architect | Ibrahim M. Jaidah (Arab Engineering Bureau), Heerim Architects |
| Capacity | 40,000 |
| Construction Began | 1 March 2017 |
| Stadium Opened | 22 October 2021 |
| Structural Engineer | Schlaich Bergermann Partners, Thornton Tomasetti |
| Contractors | Al Jaber Engineering, Tekfen Construction |
Facts about the Stadium
- The stadium’s name comes from a local tree named Al Thumama. The tree only grows locally there.
- The prototype design of Qatar’s solar energy-based cooling technology was born during the stadium’s design period.
- It is the first FIFA World Cup stadium solely designed by Qatari Nationals. Arab Engineering Bureau and Heerim Architects helped design the venue.
- The stadium will act as a community hub for the Al Thumama area.
- The stadium’s green design ensures that 40% more fresh water is saved compared to other stadiums of the same size.
- The venue has a 50,000 m2 park area, covered with native flora and over 400 trees.
2022 FIFA World Cup in the Stadium
| Date | Time (AST/UTC+3) | Match |
| 21 November | 13:00 | Senegal vs. Netherlands |
| 23 November | 19:00 | Spain vs. Costa Rica |
| 25 November | 16:00 | Qatar vs. Senegal |
| 27 November | 16:00 | Belgium vs. Morocco |
| 29 November | 22:00 | Iran vs. United States |
| 1 December | 18:00 | Canada vs. Morocco |
| 4 December | 18:00 | Winner Gr.D vs. Runners-up Gr.C |
| 10 December | 18:00 | Quarter-finals |
The Supreme Committee has planned to restructure certain aspects of the stadium following World Cup’s completion. Constructors will dismantle the temporary upper section. As a result, the seating capacity will revert to 20,000. A sports clinic and a 60-room boutique hotel are planned to be built on the site.
The stadium is equipped with cutting-edge technologies. It is planned to serve as tennis, basketball, and horse-riding events too. Qatar management is doing their best to make it more than just another stadium.
- Related: Al Janoub Stadium
