Al Thumama Stadium Lights up Clear Path to Qatar’s World Cup Moment and Beyond

Satyendra Pathak Doha Al Thumama Stadium has become an instant global landmark on the outskirts of Doha, drawing rave reviews of Qatar and its preparati...

Satyendra Pathak Doha Al Thumama Stadium has become an instant global landmark on the outskirts of Doha, drawing rave reviews of Qatar and its preparations to host next year’s FIFA World Cup.Designed to serve multiple purposes over its lifetime and implemented by a joint venture between Turkish giant Tekfen Construction and Qatar’s own Al Jaber Engineering (AJE), Al Thumama has become much more than a project. Even before having hosted its first event – the Amir Cup 2021 football final in mid-October – the award-winning stadium and the effectiveness with which it was built had earned high praise from all sides.Both its inaugural match and its public unveiling ceremony were attended by some 40,000 spectators, including His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who led a high-powered official delegation to the event. Key members of the Doha diplomatic corps were on hand, including the Turkish Ambassador to Qatar HE Dr Mustafa Goksu. FIFA President Gianni Infantino also took part, describing the facility as a ‘work of art’ that ‘carries a lot of significance for the country and the region’. He also personally thanked HH the Amir “for Qatar’s efforts, which go beyond making what will be the best FIFA World Cup ever in 2022.” The stadium has been described as a key milestone on the road to the World Cup, and from several perspectives. An article on the Spanish sister site of Architectural Digest hailed it as an “architectural gem,” highlighting the inbuilt long-term usefulness of the stadium, which “stands out among the future venues of the World Cup for its sculptural architecture.” Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy Hassan Al Thawadi also paid tribute to the stadium’s design, which is derived from the traditional gahfiya cap worn by many men and boys in Qatar and several other Arab countries. “It has a very special place in our heart,” he said during the inauguration activities. “It’s a common element or a common thread that unites us all, and a celebration of Arab culture.” Built with the fans in mind, Al Thumama is also a big hit with the athletes. No less an authority than former Barcelona superstar Xavi Hernandes – who coached local club Al Sadd to victory in the Amir Cup – called Al Thumama “an amazing, amazing stadium with great facilities”. As functional as it is, though, and however striking its appearance, the most compelling aspects of the new stadium may come from the story of how it was built. Tekfen and AJE faced significant challenges in completing Al Thumama, including alterations to the original design specifications, an illegal blockade of Qatar that disrupted procurement efforts, freak weather that added further delays, and even a global Covid pandemic. Despite these difficulties, the Turkish-Qatari team overcame all obstacles in delivering a stadium that both pays tribute to the region’s culture and opens a gateway to a healthy and productive future.Overall, this performance wouldn’t have been impossible without the synergies that led Tekfen and AJE to team up in the first place. As Turkey’s largest construction company and a recognised player in the world of high-end infrastructure, including FIFA-compliant stadiums, Tekfen brought unparalleled credentials to the table. At the 2016 World Stadium Congress, the firm was even named “Best Stadium Contractor of the Year” for its work on Azerbaijan’s Baku Olympic Stadium. Among other things, AJE contributed to Qatar’s largest equipment fleet and specialised knowledge of the local and regional markets, which was crucial to maintaining a workable supply chain despite the aforementioned disruptions.Perhaps most importantly, both companies were animated by a strong spirit of cooperation that has spread across all avenues for Qatari-Turkish cooperation in recent years. When Qatar needed new partnerships to get around the travel and trade embargos placed on it in 2017, Turkey stepped in across the board, with both public and private sectors doing their part to support a strategic friend. Qatar has reciprocated in several ways, including diplomatic support and timely injections of financial assistance. The same spirit empowered the Tekfen-AJE Joint Venture to implement the Supreme Committee’s enhanced health and safety measures to great effect, completing more than 20 million working hours at the Al Thumama site without a single time-loss injury. The result for Qatar – and for the world – is a jewel whose many facets include headlines today and tomorrow, new standards for the ongoing utility of high-profile sporting venues, and a shining symbol of competence and cooperation.Tekfen Chairman Murat Gigin said the stadium was a “monument to effective cooperation”. “Al Thumama is already emerging – both in form and in function – as an icon of the legacy that all Qataris will inherit from the country’s World Cup moment,” he said after the unveiling. “Just as we at the Tekfen-AJE team were humbled by the trust placed in us to construct this award-winning facility, so are we proud to have met our responsibilities despite impediments of historic proportions,” Gigin said.