Kingdom Arena – design description

What will Kingdom Arena be?

Construction of Kingdom Arena (initially known as the Boulevard Hall) began in mid-2023. It was intended to be an entertainment center allowing for a variety of events and large concerts, as well as activities related to the Riyadh Season winter festival. At the same time, the size of the arena was to allow for a full-size pitch to be created inside and for the facility to be used as a stadium.

What kind of football games will take place at Kingdom Arena?

Initially, it was assumed that the arena would host matches as part of the annual Riyadh Season Cup friendly tournament. At the end of September 2023, it was also announced that an agreement had been signed between the General Entertainment Authority and football club Al-Hilal. Under the agreement, the new hall is to become the home venue of Al-Hilal, who will play their matches here.

Al-Hilal is the most successful football club in Saudi Arabia. In August 2023, the team became world famous after the transfer of Brazilian striker Neymar to the club. The team has not previously had its own facility and has played its matches at various stadiums in Riyadh: King Fahd International Stadium, Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium and King Saud University Stadium.

When will Kingdom Arena open?

Al-Hilal is to pay 40 million rials a year for the use of the arena. Thanks to a contribution of 25 million rials from Prince Al Waleed bin Talal, owner of the Kingdom Holding Company, the facility will be named Kingdom Arena. It is expected to be inaugurated in January 2024, on the occasion of the Riyadh Season Cup tournament.

What will Kingdom Arena feature?

Kingdom Arena will be a fully covered facility, with a full-size football pitch inside and stands capable of holding 26,000 spectators. The building will be 47m tall, and will measure 220×150m from the outside. Inside there will be, among other things, 20 skyboxes and a sky lounge for 350 people. The venue will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology, as well as a panoramic video screen circling the interior all around. The arena will be built in what is known as Boulevard City, in the north-western part of Riyadh.