Visitors watch a scale model of Al Thumama Stadium which was unveiled at Hamad International Airport in Doha yesterday. Picture by: Salim Matramkot/The Peninsula.
The Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC) yesterday unveiled a scale model of the Al Thumama Stadium, one of the eight stadiums which will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, at an impressive ceremony at Hamad International Airport (HIA).
The stadium’s design is based on the gahfiya headdress worn by men across the Arab world. The stadium’s design is envisioned by renowned Qatari architect Ibrahim M. Jaidah and is set for completion in 2020 and will host 40,000 fans during the group stage and quarterfinal matches of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary -General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) said symbolism associated with the gahfiya-inspired design is multifaceted.
“We’ve always been very careful to combine the past with the future when it comes to our designs. This is already showcased at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor. The gahfiya is a continuation of that,” he said.
The stunning scale model, which will be on public display until September 15, is located in the airport’s main departures hall close to the Untitled Lamp Bear artwork by Swiss artist Urs Fischer, a now world-renowned artistic landmark that is seen by the 37m travellers that pass through the state-of-the-art airport each year.
“Hamad International Airport will play a major role in 2022 and be the main gateway for over a million players and fans who we’re expecting will visit Qatar when the tournament kicks off. I could not think of a better place to launch our largest stadium scale model other than HIA, as we continue to show the progress we are making and demonstrate the amazing stadiums and tournament features fans and players alike can expect when they visit us in 2022,” said Thawadi.
The Al Thumama Stadium design was officially launched by the SC on August 20.
It is the sixth stadium design to be unveiled, and follows Al Wakrah Stadium, Al Bayt Stadium, Al Rayyan Stadium, and Qatar Foundation Stadium. Khalifa International Stadium, Qatar’s first tournament-ready venue, was officially opened by the Emir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at the Emir Cup Final in May 2017.
Architect Jaidah said: “The design reflects our identity. I looked towards several options but gahfiya made a lot sense and I used it as a metaphor of shelter. We had 17 people from all around the world that participated in putting together a technical working stadium. The stadium is temperature controlled and fulfills all the international standards.”
“This stadium reflects the identity of the nation which makes it stands out and unique in its own way. Al Thumama meets all the international standards of a sophisticated state-of-art stadium,” he added.
During the unveiling ceremony, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Akbar Al Baker and Eng. Badr Mohammed Al Meer, Chief Operating Officer at Hamad International Airport welcomed the guests.
