The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) unveiled on Wednesday the design of Al Rayyan Stadium as the fifth proposed host venue for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™, at a special ceremony held at Ali bin Abdullah Fort in Al Rayyan.

Al Rayyan Stadium will be built on the site of Al Rayyan Sports Club's former stadium (Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium), which was recently deconstructed. During tournament mode, the stadium will have a capacity of 40,000 spectators to be able to host group stage, round-of-16 and quarter finals matches. After the tournament the stadium's capacity will be reduced to 21,000 in legacy mode with the upper tier of seats being removed and sent to developing nations in need of sports infrastructure.

The stadium will also feature the innovative and sustainable cooling technology being delivered by the SC and its stakeholders. This will ensure comfortable viewing conditions for fans and an optimal playing temperature for players during the legacy use of the stadium for domestic competitions, international matches and tournaments hosted in Qatar throughout the year.

Speaking at the launch, Mr. Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, said: "Unveiling the design of Al Rayyan stadium is another important step forward in our preparations to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. We will continue to work tirelessly as our vision for the tournament takes shape on the ground."

"As one of the most successful and widely-supported clubs in Qatar, Al Rayyan has always played an important part in our hosting plans. We are very confident that this impressively designed stadium and precinct will become a landmark for the Al Rayyan area and benefit the entire community," Al Thawadi added.

Al Rayyan's sporting heritage and Qatar's environment is reflected in the design of the stadium. The stadium's façade will feature a multitude of local patterns and designs, which draw on Qatari culture. Featuring an innovative exterior design, it also aims to create a sense of place unique to Al Rayyan in particular, and more generally to the culture of Qatar and the Middle East. Most of the hospitality and service areas will be located outside the stadium in dune-like structures, which resemble the sand dunes that surround traditional desert tents.

HE Sheikh Saud Bin Khalid Bin Hamad Al Thani, Chairman of Al Rayyan Sports Club said: "We are proud and delighted to be part of delivering one of the proposed host venues for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar, since Al Rayyan Sports Club has played a major role in the history of football in Qatar. The new stadium is befitting of the status and popularity of our club, and will greatly benefit the club and residents of Al Rayyan."

The state of art design will actively reduce the carbon footprint of the stadium and precinct through on-site renewable energy, lightweight building design, careful selection of materials, and both energy and water efficiency measures. The stadium is designed with the goal of certification under both the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) ratings.

The stadium and surrounding precinct will contain a number of facilities and features that will be used by the local population of Al Rayyan, including a mosque, members club, athletics track, cricket pitch, tennis courts, hockey pitch, football training pitches, aquatics centre, skate park and cycling track. The precinct will also house a new branch of Aspetar – the leading sports medicine hospital.

The SC also launched its community outreach programme 'Jeeran', which interacts with and involves the communities surrounding 2022 FIFA World Cup™ projects. Jeeran has engaged with Al Rayyan residents through several visits to Al Rayyan Majleses to listen to their views in relation to the new stadium design. This feedback has been taken on board in terms of the construction scheme and will ensure that the stadium leaves a tangible legacy for the residents of Al Rayyan.

Find out more about Al Rayyan Stadium design.