According to Dezeen, Global architecture studio Populous has unveiled its plans for Aramco Stadium, a 47,000-seat sports venue in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, designed to be “iconic in the football world”.
Set to host the upcoming 2027 AFC Asian Cup, the building will be defined by a spiralling form intended to evoke waves, in a nod to its position on the coast of the Arabian Gulf.
Populous is also developing it to meet the requirements to be a 2034 FIFA World Cup venue.
![Exterior of Aramco Stadium by Populous](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2024/08/aramco-stadium-populous-architecture-saudi-arabia-sports_dezeen_2364_col_1-852x568.jpg)
Aramco Stadium’s curved design is intended to be “instantly and uniquely recognisable”, Populous said.
Once complete, it will form part of an 800,000-square-metre masterplan the studio is also developing for the Sports City district in Al Khobar.
“The design will become iconic in the football world and will be synonymous with Saudi Arabia’s vision to further develop Al Khobar into a global sports destination, attracting visitors from around the world,” said Populous’s general manager Shireen Hamdan.
![Aerial view of stadium in Saudi Arabia by Populous](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2024/08/aramco-stadium-populous-architecture-saudi-arabia-sports_dezeen_2364_col_5-852x568.jpg)
“This world-class stadium development spans nearly a square kilometre, creating a seamless connection between the venue and the Sports City district,” added lead architect Rhys Courtney.
“In terms of scale and facility offerings, this project is one of the most ambitious of its kind globally, underpinning Saudi Arabia’s ambition to make Al Khobar one of the world’s premier sporting destinations,” he continued.
![Aerial view of Aramco Stadium by Populous](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2024/08/aramco-stadium-populous-architecture-saudi-arabia-sports_dezeen_2364_col_0-852x568.jpg)
Aramco Stadium’s spiralling exterior will be formed of overlapping panels, which Populous said is modelled on “the graceful rotation of waves and the spiral motifs commonly found in nature”.
The panels will incorporate openings, allowing natural light inside where ramps and walkways will follow the shape of the exterior, leading visitors down into the elliptical seating bowl.
![Render of entrance to stadium in Saudi Arabia](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2024/08/aramco-stadium-populous-architecture-saudi-arabia-sports_dezeen_2364_col_4-852x568.jpg)
According to Populous, the shape of the seating bowl is designed to ensure “uninterrupted views of the pitch from every seat” while optimising natural ventilation.
For sporting events, it will accommodate 47,000 spectators, but this could be increased to 55,000 for other events such as music concerts.