A panoramic view of Al Wakrah Stadium site. Officials at the signing ceremony yesterday.

The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) yesterday announced the award of the main contractor for Al Wakrah Stadium to Midmac in a joint venture with Porr Qatar.
Located about 15km south of Doha, the 40,000-seat stadium was designed taking the dhow boats that carried Qatari fishermen and pearl divers as inspiration. It will host matches up the quarter-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The contract signing ceremony was attended by the SC secretary general Hassan al-Thawadi, Technical Delivery Office chairman Hilal al-Kuwari, vice chairman Yasir al-Jamal, Competition Venues executive director Ghanim al-Kuwari, Programme Services executive director Faisal al-Kaabi, Competition Venues deputy executive directors Youssif al-Musleh, Othman Zarzour, and Wakrah Stadium project manager Thani al-Zarraa.
The main contractor was represented by Midmac general manager Raghib Kublawi and Porr Qatar financial managing director Marc Krouse. With the completion of the enabling works phase, the start of vertical construction of the superstructure - including construction of the stands - will start before the year-end. The stadium is set for completion by the end of 2018.
Al-Thawadi said that by listening to the Al Wakrah community, the SC has ensured that the stadium and surrounding precinct will leave a valuable social legacy. “Our legacy concept is also strengthened by appointing a Qatari company in a joint venture to contribute to the economic legacy of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.”
While expressing his satisfaction at the pace of construction, Hilal al-Kuwari observed that the pitch level is beginning to take on shape and vertical construction set to begin. “Now that the enabling works contractor has finalised demobilisation from the site, everything is ready for the main contractor to step in.”
Midmac Contracting’s board chairman HE Sheikh Hamad bin Abdallah bin Khalifa al-Thani expressed his gratitude to the SC for the trust and confidence placed in Midmac and its joint venture partners to build Al Wakrah Stadium, in addition to developing the Khalifa International Stadium at Aspire Zone, proposed host venue for group stage, round of 16 and quarter-final matches.
Porr Qatar managing director Thomas Stiegler added they would work closely with Midmac to deliver Al Wakrah Stadium within the contract period of 34 months. During the enabling works phase, about 460,000 cu m were excavated, around 25,000 cu m of concrete at foundation poured and more than 2,800m of pipes installed.
Preparations are currently underway to build the superstructure following completion of the enabling works which entailed the laying of the stadium foundation, piling, drainage and site wide bulk earthworks. Works are also underway at the precinct to build the primary substation for the stadium, in order to secure the timely availability of the power supply prior to completion of main construction works at the site.
Over 800 construction workers have worked at the site in the last year, and safety and workers welfare are a top priority on site with more than 2.5mn man hours put in without any lost time through accidents.
During this time the main earthworks and concrete sub-structure have been completed, including 84 concrete piles of 1.2m diameter and 19m depth, as well the removal of the external high tension lines. The 40,000-seat stadium, future home of Al Wakrah Sports Club, will be surrounded by approximately 560,000sq m of legacy precinct, including a new sports centre and community hub. The precinct will feature a range of community facilities, such as a park, mosque, school, hotel, wedding hall, vocational training centre and retail outlets.