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Saudi Arabia's Sports Ministry has tendered an early works contract for the expansion of the Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam.

The scope of the contract includes the decommissioning, demolition, bulk excavation, relocation and setting up of related facilities for the stadium.

The tender was issued on 3 April and the last date for submitting bids is 10 May.

The expansion aims to increase the stadium's seating capacity to approximately 30,000 spectators, ready to host the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup in 2027.

The project is part of the kingdom's plans to build sports stadiums under its SR10.1bn ($2.7bn) capital projects programme.

The Prince Mohamad Bin Fahd Stadium was built in 1973 and has about 20,000 seats.

In January, MEED exclusively reported that Saudi Arabia's Sports Ministry was preparing to issue tenders for contracts to build sports stadiums under the capital projects programme.

In July last year, the ministry invited construction companies to submit prequalification documents for the main construction contracts. The projects are slated for completion before the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.

The projects are split into four principal elements. The largest of these projects – and the most immediate – covers the construction of a new stadium to the north of Riyadh and the upgrade of five existing football stadiums. This includes:

• Increasing the capacity of King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh to 92,000 seats
• Expanding the seating capacity of Riyadh’s Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Stadium to 45,000
• Increasing the capacity of Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd Stadium to 30,000 seats
• An increase in seating capacity for the Prince Saud Bin Jalawi Stadium in Al Khair to 45,000
• The construction of a sustainable New Riyadh Stadium in the north of Riyadh with 45,000 seats

The next main element of the ministry’s projects programme is the construction of 30 new training grounds and facilities in proximity to the stadiums that will be used for the 2027 competition.

Construction on the schemes is expected to start in July 2024 and be completed by December 2025. A total of 18 facilities will be ready in time for the 2026 AFC Women’s Cup.

MEED's April 2024 special report on Saudi Arabia includes:

> GVT & ECONOMY: Saudi Arabia seeks diversification amid regional tensions
> BANKING: Saudi lenders gear up for corporate growth
> UPSTREAM: Aramco spending drawdown to jolt oil projects
> DOWNSTREAM: Master Gas System spending stimulates Saudi downstream sector
> POWER: Riyadh to sustain power spending
> WATER: Growth inevitable for the Saudi water sector
> CONSTRUCTION: Saudi gigaprojects propel construction sector
> TRANSPORT: Saudi Arabia’s transport sector offers prospects