AL KHOR CITY, QATAR (CelebrityAccess) — The construction of Al Bayt Stadium, a major sports venue which will host games during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, took a step forward as work began on installing the venue’s retractable roof.
Once fully assembled, the roof will weigh around 1,600 tons – the equivalent of almost 380 medium sized motor cars. The roof will be able to close in a three-phase movement that takes approximately 20 minutes.
Each roof truss measures 94.4 meters and weighs between 82 and 104 tons. Each truss was fabricated into eight pieces at the workshop, transported to the site, and welded together at a dedicated area outside the stadium before being lifted into place.
“This structure will allow more flexibility in lighting and climate conditions within the stadium, making it fit for purpose all year round,” said Dr. Al Hajeri, Aspire Zone Foundation’s Project Director for Al Bayt Stadium. “Installing the roof structure is a significant milestone as it completes the major lifting required on-site and means the big cranes can soon be removed.”
Designed in the style of a traditional Bedouin tent, which gives the stadium its name, Al Bayt Stadium – Al Khor City will have a capacity of 60,000 during the World Cup.
Post-tournament, the capacity will be reduced to approximately 30,000, with parts of the stadium donated to countries in need of sporting infrastructure.
The upper concourse of the stadium will be converted into a hotel, while a shopping center and branch of Aspetar, a sports medicine facility, will also be incorporated into the structure, alongside entertainment and shopping centers, multipurpose halls and other venues. The landscape around the stadium will also feature a landscaped greenbelt which will be incorporated into the surrounding precinct.
