Design & Development

Aramco brings in Ayesa for Al Khobar stadium project

Featured image credit: Populous

Spanish technology and engineering solutions company Ayesa has landed the Project Management Consultancy (PMC) contract for the new Aramco Stadium in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia.

State-owned petroleum and natural gas company Aramco, which will operate the stadium, has appointed Ayesa to support it in delivering a state-of-the-art stadium that will host games during the 2034 FIFA World Cup, which Saudi Arabia officially secured last week, and the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.

Ground was broken on Aramco Stadium, one of several major stadium projects being developed in Saudi Arabia, back in September with design and build contract-holders, Besix and Albawani, admitting the “complex” scheme faces a “challenging timeline”.

Aramco Stadium in August became the latest facility to be revealed as part of Saudi Arabia’s infrastructure investment drive for its staging of the World Cup. Aramco detailed Populous’ designs for the facility itself, as well as its surrounding masterplan.

The 47,000-seat venue will be the centrepiece of a site including cutting-edge sports and entertainment facilities, retail areas, and entertainment zones.

Ayesa’s football stadium portfolio includes Real Madrid’s Estadio Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in its homeland, as well as Estadio de la Cartuja in Seville.

Antonio Cubero Hernández, Ayesa’s director of buildings and cities division for EMEA, Asia and LATAM, said: “This project is a significant milestone for us not only because of its scale but also as a testament to our multidisciplinary excellence in architecture, landscaping, and civil engineering.

“It underscores our position as global experts in stadium development and highlights our growing international footprint. We are eager to embark on this journey, collaborating closely with Aramco and all stakeholders to deliver a venue that will be a source of pride and a catalyst for future growth in the region.

“This stadium will showcase our visión and capabilities to deliver innovative, world-class sports facilities.”

José Ramón Delgado, Ayesa’s Middle East regional manager, added: “Ayesa is committed to delivering the Aramco Stadium with a focus on excellence, innovation, efficiency, and sustainability.

“Our approach emphasises building strong partnerships and setting new standards for sports stadiums that offer multi-use, generate multiple revenue streams, and have strong connections with the local community. This project will support local businesses and the economy and serve as a major milestone in Saudi Vision 2030, addressing the Kingdom’s evolving needs.”