“As part of the SC’s legacy initiative to develop the private sector, the tender process was implemented for a number of Qatari contractors who have local knowledge and proven capability in delivering the required services,” a release said yesterday.

The enabling works phase, which will begin this month, is scheduled to conclude around March 2015. During this period, HBK will deliver bulk earthworks including site clearance, excavation and disposal, fill, as well as underground services and stadium foundations.

Foundation works will be marked by a ceremony in September followed by the announcement of the main construction company at the end of the year.

A new firm is expected to come on board in this second phase, partnering with a local business, in line with the Supreme Committee’s effort to boost the expansion of the Qatar economy.

SC secretary general Hassan al-Thawadi said: “We are excited to announce the next stage of works for Al Wakrah Stadium and look forward to continued progress on the ground this year.

“The stadium and surrounding precinct will leave a social legacy in Al Wakrah and by appointing HBK, a Qatari company, we aim to also contribute to the economic legacy of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.”

HBK president Sheikh Ali bin Hamad K al-Thani said: “We are honoured and excited to be appointed by the Supreme Committee as the contractor for this critical first phase of works on the road to the FIFA World Cup in 2022, and look forward to working closely with all stakeholders to help build the first World Cup in the Middle East and achieve our country’s ambitions.”

The 40,000-seat stadium, future home of Al Wakrah Sports Club, was the first of Qatar’s FIFA World Cup proposed venues to be revealed.

The stadium will be surrounded by approximately 560,000sq m (60-hectare) 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.

Aligned with Qatar’s National Vision 2030, the new precinct will embrace the cultural heritage of Al Wakrah and the adjacent historical settlement of Al Wukair, incorporating this identity into the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup fan experience.

“In addition, the project will stimulate the city’s economic development, while providing a series of facilities that will improve the community’s overall quality of life, the release said.

Following the tournament, the stadium’s capacity will be reduced to 20,000 with the extra modular seats removed, re-configured and donated to countries in need of sporting infrastructure in consultation with FIFA and the continental football confederations.

This will ensure that Qatar is left with a stadium fit for purpose beyond 2022 as the future home of Al Warkah Sports Club, while simultaneously leaving behind a significant legacy of international football development.

In advance of major construction work beginning in Al Wakrah, the SC released its Workers’ Welfare Standards last February. These standards - which are aligned with Qatari Labour Law and international best practice and have been incorporated in all of its contracts - set clear guidelines that protect the rights of workers throughout the entire chain of contracting, from recruitment to repatriation.

After an initial inspection during the tendering process of the facility where the HBK workers on the Al Wakrah project will be housed, HBK confirmed their commitment to adhere to the SC’s Workers’ Welfare Standards, working closely with representatives of the Workers’ Welfare Committee to ensure that the health, safety and dignity of workers on the project are further protected.

Farah al-Muftah, chairperson of the Workers’ Welfare Committee, said: “We started a dialogue with HBK on our expectation for workers welfare during the tendering process and we are encouraged by the company’s commitment to creating a healthy and safe environment for workers on the Al Wakrah Stadium project.”

The SC ensures that all preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup align with Qatar’s other development imperatives, as described in the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy 2011-2016. Along with its stakeholders, the SC is tasked with delivering stadiums and other infrastructure for an amazing 2022 FIFA World Cup that will leave a lasting legacy for Qatar, the region and the world.

HBK (Hamad Bin Khalid) Contracting Company is an A-Grade licensed establishment with 44 years’ experience.