The Supreme Committee awarded first contract for Al-Wakrah Stadium. Preparatory works on site should allow cornerstone mounting in September and actual construction at year end.

HBK Contracting has been selected by the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy as enabling works contractor at the site of future Al-Wakrah Stadium. The company will fence and clear the field, provide access and then break ground, excavating ground before the general contractor moves in.

The site should be ready for official groundbreaking ceremony in September, when cornerstone mounting is planned. Before 2014 ends the general contractor should be announced. It’s not clear whether the selected entities (expected to be a joint venture of Qatari and foreign companies) will begin works before 2015.

New Al-Wakrah Stadium is the first one to reach this phase. Its capacity will be 45,000 for the duration of the World Cup and reduced by 50% afterwards. Designed by famous Zaha Hadid, it’s best known as the ‘vagina stadium’ that went viral globally, causing some controversy.

The stadium will be surrounded by approximately 560,000m2 of legacy precinct with a new sports centre and community hub. The precinct will deliver  a range of community facilities, including a park, mosque, school, hotel, wedding hall, vocational training centre and retail outlets.