Dubai is planning to build a new AED3bn ($817m) stadium in the Al-Awir area of Dubai.

Known as Mohammed bin Rashid Stadium, the 60,000-seat sports venue complies with Fifa standards and will be the world’s first fully air-conditioned and raised off-the-ground stadium. The complex will also include a training hall, 5,000-space car park, a sports museum and conference halls.

Lebanon’s Dar al-Handasah (Shair & Partners) and US-based Perkins+Will are the consultants working on the design.

In 2015, it was reported that architects were competing in a design competition for a 60,000-seat stadium in Dubai for Dubai Sports Council. The completion date for the project was said at the time to be 2018.

Vice-president and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum viewed the designs of the project on 4 May and was briefed by Mattar al-Tayer, deputy chairman of Dubai Sport Council

Dubai has planned to build a 60,000-seat stadium before. In 2007 a local/German joint venture of Arabtec Construction and Max Boegl was awarded the two main stadium contracts at Dubai Sports City. The two contracts, which together were worth AED830m, covered the design and construction of the main 60,000-seat multipurpose outdoor stadium, as well as the construction of the 10,000-seat indoor stadium. These deals were later cancelled.