Hopes Dashed for 350-Meter Giant Stadium Project
It has been claimed that NEOM Stadium, one of the most ambitious facilities planned by Saudi Arabia for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, has been indefinitely shelved. According to information based on two sources close to the matter, the decision came following the delay and downsizing of the futuristic The Line project, in which the stadium was to be located.
Details are in our news.
The stadium was designed as an elevated arena within The Line structure in NEOM.
Composed of steel and glass, The Line, stretching 160 kilometers, is a part of the broader NEOM project. The cost of the 46,000-seat stadium to be situated within this structure was anticipated to be 2.5 billion dollars.
However, according to the data from Dubai-based MEED Projects, which tracks bids and projects in the region, the stadium is listed as 'pending' and lacks a completion date. Both NEOM and the Saudi government's media office have remained silent in response to inquiries about the matter.
The Public Investment Fund, the owner of NEOM, had confirmed in April that The Line was no longer a priority.
The fund's manager, Yasir elRumayyan, has stated that it is no longer imperative for the project to be completed by 2030. Originally, the first phase of The Line was targeted to be finished precisely in that year. ElRumayyan also emphatically assured that no projects have been cancelled.
Introduced approximately a decade ago, NEOM is at the heart of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 plan, which aims to diversify the economy and reduce dependency on oil. This is not the only instance of a step back in the country's mega projects. It was reported in January that construction of the cube-shaped skyscraper Mukaab in Riyadh had been halted.
It is anticipated that the country's economy will contract this year.
Last week, the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Finance announced that this year's budget deficit will be higher than previously predicted, anticipating a contraction of 3.6% in the real gross domestic product due to a slump in oil operations.
The country is also under escalating pressure due to the war in Iran, which has significantly disrupted energy shipments, and attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
Work is still underway at the other stadiums planned for the World Cup.
The country is constructing or renovating 15 stadiums in five cities for the tournament, with dozens of training facilities also being added. The total value of these projects is estimated to be $22.7 billion, with the completion of the other facilities expected between 2026 and 2033. The Aramco Stadium, being built in the city of El Hubar in the east, is planned to be completed by the end of this year and host its first match in January.
The 2034 World Cup Hosting High Authority also announced that 'significant delivery' is ongoing in the construction stages, but did not respond to questions about the NEOM Stadium and costs.
Keşfet ile ziyaret ettiğin tüm kategorileri tek akışta gör!
Test
Gündem
Magazin
Video
Send Comment