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 Interactive map of Alinma Stadium | |
| Full name | King Abdullah Stadium (2014–2023) King Abdullah Sports City Stadium (2023–2024) Alinma Stadium (2025–present) |
|---|---|
| Location | North ofJeddah,Saudi Arabia |
| Owner | Ministry of Sport |
| Operator | Ministry of Sport |
| Capacity | 62,345 |
| Record attendance | 62,345 |
| Surface | Grass |
| Scoreboard | Yes |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 2012; 14 years ago (2012) |
| Built | 2012; 14 years ago (2012) |
| Opened | 2014; 12 years ago (2014) |
| Renovated | 2023; 3 years ago (2023) |
| Construction cost | $533 million SAR2 billion |
| Architect | Arup Associates |
| Structural engineer | Arup |
| Services engineer | Arup |
| Main contractors | BESIX,Al-Muhaidib Contracting Company |
| Tenants | |
| Al-Ahli (2014–present) Al-Ittihad (2014–present) Jeddah (Selected matches) Saudi Arabia national football team (Selected matches)
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| Website | |
| www | |
King Abdullah Sports City Stadium (Arabic:مدينة الملك عبدالله الرياضية), known asAlinma Stadium due to sponsorship reasons, also nicknamedthe Shining Jewel (Arabic:الجوهرة المشعة,romanized: al-Jawhara Al-Moshe'ah) or simplythe Jewel, is amulti-purpose stadium and the main stadium of the sports city located 30 kilometers north ofJeddah,Saudi Arabia.
The city was named afterAbdullah, King of Saudi Arabia when the stadium opened.[1]The main stadium (King Abdullah International Stadium) is used forfootball, reaching a full capacity of 62,241 spectators. It is the biggest stadium in Jeddah, and the second biggest in Saudi Arabia, after Riyadh'sKing Fahd Stadium. Additionally, it is the 10th biggest stadium in theArab world, andone of the biggest stadiums in Asia. Surrounding the main stadium are smaller sports venues. It also hostsathletics and indoor sporting events inindoor arenas. The stadium also hosted matches of the2023 FIFA Club World Cup. In 2025, the stadium hosted the final of the newly revamped2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite.
It is set to be a venue for the2034 FIFA World Cup and has a proposed capacity of 58,432 people, where it will host fixtures in the group stage, round of 32, round of 16, and quarterfinals.[2] The stadium will undergo some minor refurbishments for the tournament. It is also set to host the2027 AFC Asian Cup, specifically the group stage, round of 16, quarterfinals, and a semifinal.[3]
The bid for the construction was won bySaudi Aramco and the contractor for this project was a joint venture betweenAl Muhaidib Contracting Company and Belgian construction companyBESIX Group.[4]
The company also provided an independent evaluation of the performance of local staff and the event safety officer (provided by Sword Security) during the inaugural event at the KASC stadium. This led to a significant number of safety and security recommendations and the appointment of a dedicated Stadium Manager.
The stadium field surface is paspalum turfgrass marketed as Pure Dynasty Seeded Paspalum and provided by Atlas Turf International.[5]
The idea of a new large stadium in the city ofJeddah was considered in the late 1990s, and was always anticipated by Saudi football fans.[citation needed] In 2012, the new stadium's construction began. Before the stadium was launched officially in 2014, Jeddah's main stadium wasPrince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, accommodating 24,000 and hosting numerous great matches and events in Saudi football history.
Designed and delivered by Arup Associates' architects and delivered by Arup's engineers.
The city opened officially on May 1, 2014, hosting the final of the2014King's Cup tournament between Jeddah'sAl-Ahli SC andRiyadh'sAl-Shabab, in front of 62,241 fans.[6] In a hometown upset, Al-Shabab won 3–0, and were crowned their 3rd King's Cup championship.[6] The match was attended by then-King Abdullah, along with then-Crown PrinceSalman and then-Deputy Crown PrinceMuqrin.
Outside the main stadium, the city has three separate football fields and four small indoor arenas also used for football. It also has sixtennis courts and a large indoor arena for sports and other purposes. The city has a mainmosque and six separate smaller mosques. The city is further equipped with a comprehensive media center, in which spacious rooms are used forpress conferences for players, coaches, and football personalities.
The main stadium can fit up to 63,241 in attendance. The lower section of the stadium (L) contains 38 blocks accommodating 631 seats per block with a total of 24,000 seats. The middle section (M) contains 48 blocks accommodating 500 seats per block with a total of 24,000 seats. The upper and smallest section (U) has 48 blocks accommodating 291 seats per block with a total of 14,000 seats. The stadium also holds hundreds of private seats and car parking spots reserved to those of special needs.
The maximum viewers witnessed was forBrazil national football team againstArgentina national football team with 62,345.
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The stadium hostedWWE'sGreatest Royal Rumble event on April 27, 2018, with over 60.000 people in attending.[7] The event featured the first ever 50-manRoyal Rumble match, withBraun Strowman being declared the winner and the Greatest Royal Rumble Champion after last eliminatingBig Cass.[8]
The event was a part of a 10-year strategic multi-platform partnership between WWE and theSaudi General Sports Authority in support ofSaudi Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia's social and economic reform program.[9]
WWE returned to Jeddah on June 7, 2019, withSuper ShowDown, which featured the first ever 50-manBattle Royal.[10]The Undertaker andGoldberg competed in the main event.
On October 8, 2017, a deal was agreed for the complex to host the final of theWorld Boxing Super Series: Cruiserweight tournament in May 2018.[11]
"This agreement is part of our broader commitment and work to develop the sport of boxing in Saudi Arabia. Having the first final of such a high profile and groundbreaking tournament take place in Saudi Arabia is a key milestone for us, and will be one of many major sports events to take place in the Kingdom next year."
— Turki Al-Alsheikh, former president ofThe General Sports Authority
"This is fantastic news, not just forWorld Boxing Super Series but for boxing and for the sport in Saudi Arabia. We have seen huge and growing interest in the World Boxing Super Series from fight fans, broadcasters, commercial partners and venue owners from the major boxing markets around the world."
— Roberto Dalmiglio, CEO of Comosa
In February 2018, the final was set to beOleksandr Usyk vs.Murat Gassiev. May 11 was the date that was set for the final, however in April, Usyk suffered a minor injury to his left elbow and ultimately the final was rescheduled to take place on July 21 inMoscow, Russia. Usyk won the fight via a dominant unanimous decision.[12][13]
On July 5, it was rumoured theWBSS super middleweight final betweenGeorge Groves vs.Callum Smith, an all-British fight, would not take place in the UK and likely to take place in Jeddah.[14] Both boxers made their opinions known that it was not ideal the final should take place Jeddah as it would be much bigger in the UK, however there was no complaints from either side. There was more frustration at the bout being postponed.[15][16] The final was announced to take place on September 28 at a 10,000 capacity arena at the Complex.[17]
Aheavyweightboxing match dubbed'Rage on the Red Sea' sees Oleksandr Usyk andAnthony Joshua fighting for the second time. This fight was confirmed for the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah as of June 2022, Usyk was the winner of their first fight which happened inLondon, England, during September 2021.[18] This rematch is Joshua's second professional fight in Saudi Arabia, he previously foughtAndy Ruiz Jr. in the'Clash on the Dunes' at theDiriyah arena during 2019. The boxing match is set to take place on Saturday the 20th of August 2022 with a maincard including the first all female boxing fight in Saudi Arabia.[19][20][21]
From 2023 to 2027, theNext Generation ATP Finals are schedulded to be hosted in the stadium.
21°45′45″N39°09′54″E / 21.762627°N 39.165096°E /21.762627; 39.165096
