AFL Architects designs the new King Abdullah Economic City Stadium for the FIFA 2034 World Cup bid

AFL Architects were commissioned by the Economic Cities and Special Zones Authority (ECZA) to design the new King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) Stadium, one of the 15 proposed host stadiums for the FIFA World Cup 2034™ in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 

AFL Architects‘ work involved site analysis and selection, designing an 800,000+ square metre masterplan located to the north of Jeddah on the Red Sea coast and a new 45,700-capacity stadium concept.

The stadium scored highly in the technical review of all 15 stadiums in the FIFA World Cup 2034™ bid evaluation report. 

Concept – The Reef Stadium

The envisioned stadium, a testament to the city’s forward-thinking approach, stands as a beacon of economic prosperity, environmental sustainability, and community integration.

Embodying the core principles of the city’s planning guidelines, this cutting-edge facility not only promises to elevate the region’s sporting landscape but also seeks to foster a harmonious balance between progress and responsible development.

From innovative energy-efficient systems to the integration of green spaces, every aspect of the stadium’s design prioritises the conservation of resources and the reduction of ecological footprint. By embracing renewable energy sources and implementing eco-friendly practices, the stadium minimises its environmental impact and sets a pioneering example for sustainable infrastructure development within the region.

For the concept, AFL Architects took inspiration from the heat-resilient super-coral in the Red Sea. Much like a thriving reef ecosystem, the stadium design embraces organic forms, vibrant colours, and sustainable practices. 

Sustainable legacy

The stadium looks to serve as a multi-purpose entertainment venue at the heart of the King Abdullah Economic City development. The stadium precinct will be open to the community to facilitate connections with nature and will create long-lasting legacy benefits to the local community.

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The masterplan includes plans for vibrant experiential mixed-use neighbourhoods that include retail outlets, sports facilities, a leisure quarter with cinema, cultural hub, hotels and residential dwellings. 

The stadium itself has been designed with a demountable upper tier to cater to a variety of events post tournament. AFL Architects designed overlay legacy options for multiple events including concerts, e-sports, boxing and to host the Saudi Women’s Premier League Stadium. 

The stadium façade incorporates an adaptable visual experience with feature lighting on the lower tier façade to alter the ambiance to enhance the fan experience. The upper tier façade enables projection mapping to cater to different event formats.

Environmental Sustainability 

AFL Architects’ designs allow for a number of environmental sustainability measures to be incorporated including: 

• A high-performance thermal façade designed to combat solar gain and reduce cooling demands.
• Designed for disassembly, reuse and recycling.
• Low flow fixtures and greywater recycling.
• Designed to achieve LEED Gold (or an equivalent accreditation).

About AFL Architects 

AFL Architects are an award-winning architecture practice headquartered in Manchester, UK, with an office in London. The practice’s sports and leisure team has delivered projects in 25 countries from their base in Manchester. 

This is the practice’s latest FIFA World Cup Stadium following on from its delivery of Lusail Stadium, host stadium to the final of the 2022 FIFA World Cup™.

AFL Architects’ FIFA World Cup Legacy dates back to 2010, with the design and delivery of the Peter Mokaba Stadium in South Africa. 

Source & imagery, courtesy: AFL Architects

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