The announcement was made by Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy alongside the Aspire Zone Foundation at a press conference inside the Al Khor Sports Club today.

The venue and surrounding precinct will be known as Al Bayt, Al Khor City, and is a proposed semi-final venue for FIFA's flagship tournament.

Early works have started on the Stadium with a completion date set for 2018.

The Stadium design is an entirely Qatari concept, reflecting Qatar's proud history and culture, officials claimed.

It is based on Bayt Al Sha'ar, a black-and-white tent used traditionally by nomadic people in Qatar and the region.

The Stadium will have a modular design, which includes an upper-tier of removable seats.

The proposed Al Bayt Stadium will host one of the semi-finals when Qatar hosts the 2022 FIFA World Cup ©Qatar2022

Following the 2022 World Cup, this tier will be removed and the capacity of the Stadium will be reduced to 32,000.

In consultation with FIFA and the global football community, the removed seats will be reconfigured and donated to other countries to leave a legacy for international football development.

The new Stadium will coincide with a redevelopment of the surrounding area, with a new precinct designed to benefit the local community.

This precinct will include retail space, restaurants and new landscaped paths for residents to use.

"The launch of Al Bayt Stadium & Precinct will honour Qatar's past while fully embracing the country's global future," said Hassan Al Thawadi, secretary general of the Supreme Committee.

"The launch of the design for our second proposed stadium for the 2022 FIFA World Cup is another milestone of progress, demonstrating our deep commitment to delivering an amazing experience in 2022 and beyond."

The Al Bayt Stadium will include a top tier of removable seating which, after the tournament, will be donated to other countries as part of Qatar's World Cup legacy ©Qatar2022





Hilal Al-Kuwari, President of the Aspire Zone Foundation, said: "Just as Bayt Al Sha'ar continue to remain central to family life in Qatar today, the precinct surrounding Al Bayt Stadium - which will include space for local businesses and restaurants as well as landscaped paths for the community for exercise - will become a focal point of community life long after the 2022 FIFA World Cup has concluded."

The Stadium was designed by Dar Al Handasah while leading project managing firm Projacs will serve as the Stadium's project manager.

The unveiling of the new name and design was marked by an event for the local community which focused on the future vision of Al Khor for the local residents and the neighbouring communities.



The Stadium becomes the second in Qatar to begin construction ahead of the 2022 World Cup, after the Al Wakrah Stadium, and will be carried out in alignment with the Workers' Welfare Standards, released by the Supreme Committee in March.

The new workers' charter came after much criticism over the treatment of migrant workers in Qatar from FIFA, the media and many human rights groups.

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