New Arenas For Shabab Al-Ahli And Al Wasl. What We Know

by Alexandra Mansilla

New Arenas For Shabab Al-Ahli And Al Wasl. What We Know So Far

12 Mar 2024

A few days ago, the Dubai Media Office announced that His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, approved the design of two new stadiums in Dubai, which will serve as the new homes for ADNOC UAE Pro League clubs Shabab Al-Ahli and Al Wasl. Additionally, these stadiums will have the capacity to host “major sporting events” — quite intriguing news.

Before we dive into the design specifics, it is worth mentioning that these new stadiums are truly massive compared to the current venues of the football clubs. Shabab Al-Ahli currently plays at the 12,052-seater Rashid Stadium, while Al Wasl Club's home ground is the stadium in Zabeel, which accommodates 8,439 spectators. The new stadiums will have a capacity of 20,000 each, so the difference is quite palpable.

Now, onto the design aspect. The Shabab Al-Ahli Stadium showcases an avant-garde design, with a lofty circular roof supported by columns resembling the moon, complemented by an outer space motif symbolising unity and balance.

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The Al Wasl Club Stadium embodies an innovative "city within a city" design concept (sounds impressive), reflecting Dubai's unique urban identity by incorporating open spaces. We still don't have details on what this "city within a city" will consist of, but we can speculate that it may include the stadium itself, hotels, shops, and restaurants.

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Furthermore, considering the UAE's strong emphasis on sustainability and environmental conservation, it is anticipated that both stadiums will seamlessly integrate eco-friendly systems and adhere to the standards set for smart cities.

His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Commissioner General of Infrastructure, Urban Planning and Well-Being Pillar, and Vice Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, announced the establishment of a dedicated team comprising officials from the Roads and Transport Authority, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Sports Council, Shabab Al Ahli — Dubai Club, and Al Wasl Club to oversee the stadium project. Their primary task is to assign the construction work to a specific company committed to ensuring the highest quality standards and completing the project within the agreed timeframe.

When will all the construction work commence? When can we expect to see the stadiums themselves? And who are the architects behind both stadiums? Let's wait and find out.

by Alexandra Mansilla