Al Anbar Stadium – construction description

Anbar, Iraq’s largest province only associated with fights in Fallujah, is going through regeneration. New sports infrastructure is part of the scheme. This stadium valued at $100 million will become centerpiece of a wider complex, including a secondary stadium and hotel.

Because football is Iraq’s most popular sport, the stadium has no running track, which is left only at the training ground nearby. With football-only layout the two-tiered stands offer very decent sightlines to all fans.

Since the very beginning the idea was to provide full cover of the audience and shaded but airy promenade around spectator areas. To provide the shade 66 membrane panels are to be placed around the stadium, forming an interesting façade effect and serving the purpose.

Contractors, also from Turkey (Gurtas Insaat), began construction in autumn of 2012, getting the structure off the ground in early 2013. By the summer, the overall shape of stands was clear and mounting of prefabricated steps of future terracing was advanced even in parts of the upper tier. When the construction of the stands was ready and the erection of the steel structure to support the canopy began, work was halted due to the armed conflict with Islamic State. In July 2015 the venue was blown up.

The reconstruction of the destroyed stadium did not start until March 2020. The damage caused by the explosion was so severe that the entire structure had to be demolished and construction started from scratch.