Football stadium in Al Ain set for December opening

General Shaikh Mohammed reviewed the construction progress of the project which began in June 2012. The new stadium will be the new home grounds for Al Ain Football Club’s first team. While touring the new stadium, and viewing the facilities under construction, including the latest and most modern football stadium in the UAE, which will be delivered in October and officially opened in December 2013, he stressed on the keenness of the President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to support sports initiatives and activities which are part of the country’s overall development.

General Shaikh Mohammed named the stadium “Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium” in appreciation of the efforts made by Shaikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nayhan, National Security Advisor, and Deputy Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, in supporting sports, streamlining efforts, launching programmes, projects and initiatives that serve the sports industry. The initiatives have had a positive effect of the results and achievements of Al Ain Club’s sporting journey.

General Shaikh Mohammed was briefed on the project progress and phases as well as on the unique facilities and services of the new stadium by Mohamed Mubarak Al Mazroui, undersecretary of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court and chairman of Al Ain Club Investment Company, Khaled Bin Shaiban, board member of the Al Ain Club Investment Company, and Kareem Nagy, the company’s chief executive officer. The stadium has been designed to reflect cultural Emirati elements whilst embracing elements of modernity with LED panels. The purple-themed stadium is the perfect balance of innovation and tradition, ensuring it offers the highest level of hospitality to its visitors.

The design of the stadium also includes modern features and capabilities, aligned with FIFA requirements, which will help to attract regional and international sports and entertainment events.

A superbly designed home ground for the club, the stadium will accommodate a total of 25,000 seats with over 3,000 premium seats, one of the highest ratios of premium seating in the world for football stadia. This, along with a close-up auxiliary area of 5.4 metres, gives spectators an unprecedented fan experience. The three tiered stadium also means there is no seat far from the action, and fans are transported into the heart of the game. The stadium has been constructed with close and careful attention to safety and security. A safety and security specialist, who consulted on the construction of the new Wembley Stadium, worked closely with the project team to deliver the highest standards of safety and security at the stadium.

The stadium’s location and design of surrounding areas have also been constructed to ensure ease of accessibility and minimise disruption to the community. With onsite parking for over 2,000 vehicles, the stadium offers visitors a stress-free experience. It is part of a larger project, which features residential, commercial and leisure facilities, including a hotel, built over 500,000 square metres. With the community top-of-mind, the impressive project will also feature a club house, which will include a state of the art gym and host a variety of sports games, from volleyball to handball and basketball to baseball. The club house will engage the community with regular sporting activities, encouraging residents to lead a healthier lifestyle. An important addition to the Al Ain community, the stadium and Al Ain Sports Club will diversify and bolster the city’s economy by attracting visitors to Al Ain, making it a must-visit destination.