Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) has signed up a joint venture between local
construction group Al Jaber Engineer (JEC) and leading Turkish construction firm, Tekfen Construction, as the main contractor for a 2022 FIFA World Cup stadium in capital Doha.

Arab Engineering Bureau, the oldest architectural and engineering consulting firm in Qatar, was confirmed in 2015 as the design and construction supervision consultant for the 40,000-seater stadium.

Al Thumama - a proposed venue for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar - is the seventh stadium for which the main construction contract has been awarded, said a statement from SCA.

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 completion by 2020 and will host the World Cup matches up to the quarter-final stage, it stated.

Announcing the big names, SC secretary general Hassan Al Thawadi, said: "We are delighted to award the main contract to AlJaber Engineering and Tekfen as a joint-venture. The stadium in Al Thumama is located in one of the most rapidly developing areas of Doha. Once ready, the stadium and its surrounding precinct will not only become one of the capital’s central sporting arenas, but will also serve the local community as a central community destination."

The stadium will come up in an area of 515,400 sq m which already houses four outdoor training pitches and office facilities currently used by the Qatar Football Association Technical Committee, stated Al Thawadi.

The stadium will have a reduced capacity of 20,000 seats in its post tournament legacy mode as part of the SC’s modular stadium legacy plans, said the top official.

Hilal Al Kuwari, the technical delivery office chairman at the SC, said: "We’re pleased to bring together two firms as reputable as AlJaber and Tekfen to deliver such an important project for the SC and Qatar. The awarding of this contract represents another important project milestone, coming at a significant time as Qatar and the SC move beyond the half-way point in its World Cup journey."

"The appointment of a local company in this joint venture also demonstrates our commitment to ensuring the economic legacy for Qatar, post 2022," he added.

JEC, the lead partner of the joint venture, commended SC for entrusting it with the responsibility of constructing such an important development for Doha and the communities that thrive in the district of Al Thumama.

"Being a Qatari company we are proud to build such a strategically important venue for this historic tournament. We will ensure delivery of a stadium that makes the residents of Al Thumama and the wider Doha community proud when it opens its doors for the tournament in 2022," remarked Osama Hadid, the chief executive of JEC.

Levent Kafkasli, the president of Tekfen Construction, said: "Turkey already has strong relations with Qatar and we are honoured to further strengthen this relationship by joining hands with our Qatari JV partner, AlJaber Engineering Company.

Ibrahim M. Jaidah, the group chief executive and chief architect at Arab Engineering Bureau, said: “We are honored to be part of Al Thumama Stadium as design architects. This achievement for a local company shows the benefits that hosting the World Cup has created for local companies to take part in a tournament that will be viewed by millions, for the first time in the Middle East."

"The Arab Engineering Bureau is the first consulting office in Qatar in 1966. AEB has been awarded many local and international awards for reflecting the Qatari and Islamic identity in its modern designs," he added.

Construction began in Al Thumama in mid-2016, with TiME Qatar as the project managers. Most recently levelling and grading works were completed by Boom Construction. The stadium design will be launched in 2017.-TradeArabia News Service