Representation of Qatari and Islamic Culture in The Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium
We continue our tour of World Cup stadiums in Qatar by arriving in Al Rayyan, specifically at Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium, home of Al Rayyan Sports Club.
The Al Rayyan neighbourhood, where the stadium is located, is known for its adherence to history and its people’s love of authentic culture, and its club, Al Rayyan Sports Club, is one of Qatar’s most popular football clubs. Al Rayyan’s community is distinguished by its interconnectedness and cohesion, as well as all feelings of loyalty in football to its club, which will have a new stadium that can accommodate up to 40,000 fans during matches until the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 quarterfinals.
The new Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium was built on the site of an earlier stadium of the same name, and its undulating exterior is adorned with symbols representing the splendour of Qatari culture. The facilities surrounding the stadium reflect Qatar’s nature, as they take the shape of sand dunes, an indication of the country’s beautiful desert character that extends to the west.
Al Rayyan welcomes football fans from around the world and allows them to learn about authentic Qatari traditions.
The stadium’s characteristics are derived from the Al Rayyan region that embraces it, which is distinguished by a geographical location adjacent to the desert, making it keener to preserve nature and its resources, which have always been of great importance in the lives of the people of the region.
When designing the components of the stadium’s surrounding area, sustainability criteria were taken into account. The capacity of the 40,000-seat stadium will be halved after the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, as the other half of the seats will be dismantled and donated to football development projects around the world. And the familiarity with which their region has been associated since antiquity.
The design of the Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium, which is located in the Al Rayyan neighbourhood, tells the story of Qatar. Its gleaming exterior facade alone creates distinct shapes that express various aspects of the country’s personality. It represents the value of family, the natural beauty of the desert and its abundant wildlife, as well as local and international trade.All of these shapes are combined to form a shield, symbolising the meanings of strength and unity that the people of Al Rayyan have always been proud of bearing.
These geometric shapes were inspired by the exquisite decorations that have been famous for Islamic architecture throughout the ages, and their merging in one painting reflects the wonderful handicrafts made in Qatar.
The unique external facade embraces a close-fitting seating structure, ensuring that 40,000 fans sit in an exciting and fun atmosphere.