Qatari firm HBK Contracting Company (HBK) has been awarded the main works contract for Ras Abu Aboud Stadium.

The 40,000-seat venue will be built using modular building blocks, making it the first fully demountable FIFA World Cup™ stadium in history. Located in a 450,000m² water-front site with exceptional views over Doha's skyline, the stadium will host matches up to the quarter-finals in 2022.

Eng. Hilal Al Kuwari, Chairman of the SC's Technical Delivery Office, said: "I'm delighted to see a Qatari company taking the lead on this project and happy that main works are already underway. The appointment of a local company to deliver this innovative, world-first stadium is in line with our commitment to contribute to Qatar's economic legacy after the tournament."

HBK's President, H.E. Sheikh Ali Bin Hamad K. Al Thani, said his company was proud to play a part in supporting Qatar's delivery of the 2022 FIFA World Cup™.

"We'd like to thank the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy for reinforcing its trust in HBK by awarding this project to us," said Al Thani.

"As a Qatari company, we're proud to be taking such an important role in the country's World Cup preparations and will do everything we can to help ensure 2022 is a successful tournament. We're also thrilled that as a company we can further contribute to Qatar's long-term National Vision 2030, that is being delivered under His Highness the Amir's trusted leadership."

Al Thani continued: "The innovative and state-of-the-art nature of this demountable stadium design will require a collaborative effort from all stakeholders, and we look forward to working closely with the SC and other entities."

Meanwhile, Mohammed A. Al Mulla, the SC's Ras Abu Aboud Stadium Project Manager, said: "This will be a technically challenging job – a project of this scale hasn't been done before. But, when the 40,000 fans begin streaming in on match day in 2022, it will all have been worth it."

Construction began on Ras Abu Aboud Stadium in late 2017, with Time Qatar as the project managers. Site clearance and demolition, as well as establishment of site facilities, were recently completed.

The venue, located just minutes from Hamad International Airport and in the centre of the urban development of Qatar's capital Doha, is scheduled for main works completion by 2020. The stadium design was launched in 2017.

HBK was established in 1970 to undertake civil construction projects in Qatar, with the goal of contributing to the economic progress of the country. This is the first Qatari-only company to be appointed as the Main Contractor for a 2022 FIFA World Cup™ venue, although the company has already successfully delivered the enabling works for Al Wakrah Stadium and is currently part of the main contractor joint venture on Lusail Stadium.

Constructed using shipping containers, Ras Abu Aboud Stadium will be entirely dismantled and repurposed after the 2022 FIFA World Cup™. Its parts will be used in other sporting or non-sporting projects, setting a new standard in sustainability and introducing bold new ideas to tournament legacy planning.