Populous reveals King Salman Stadium and Masterplan in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, set to become a flagship venue for national and international sporting events. Located on King Salman Road, adjacent to King Abdulaziz Park, the project centers around a 92,000-seat stadium and an expansive masterplan that integrates sports, commercial, and recreational facilities. Drawing from Saudi Arabia’s natural landscapes, the design team conceptualizes the venues as seeds emerging from the earth, symbolizing growth and the commitment of the nation to encouraging sports participation. Scheduled for completion in 2029, this project aligns with Saudi Arabia’s broader vision for the 2034 FIFA World Cup bid, which features 15 stadium designs inspired by the heritage and natural environment of the country; see designboom’s previous coverage here. 
images courtesy of Populous
With over four decades of experience and a portfolio of global projects, Populous has designed the King Salman Stadium to meet FIFA standards. Serving as the headquarters for the Saudi Arabia national football team, the stadium will host major sporting and entertainment events. The seating bowl of the venue is designed to deliver a compact and immersive experience for spectators. It includes premium features such as a Royal Box, hospitality skyboxes, lounges, and tiered seating for VVIPs, VIPs, and general attendees. A rooftop walking path offers panoramic views of King Abdulaziz Park, while internal gardens and screens enhance the overall visitor experience.
‘Populous has brought the full weight of its 40 years of global expertise in stadium design to bear on this ambitious project for a new world-class national stadium in Saudi Arabia,’ explains Mark Craine, Senior Principal at Populous and Lead Architect for the project. ‘It has been designed in full compliance with FIFA standards, meaning that it can host matches at the highest level of international tournament football, while offering the flexibility to accommodate a variety of event types. The stadium will integrate seamlessly with the wider masterplan blending architecture with landscape, and landscape with architecture to create a new sporting hub for Riyadh.’
the project centers around a 92,000-seat stadium
The wider masterplan introduces diverse sports and leisure facilities, including an athletics stadium, football training pitches, an aquatics center with an Olympic-sized pool, and a multi-purpose indoor sports hall. Community-focused amenities feature parks and courts for basketball, volleyball, and padel, connected by a 9-kilometer sports track that weaves through King Abdulaziz Park. Landscaped walkways link the various facilities, transforming into vibrant commercial and recreational zones during non-event days.
Sustainability plays a key role in the design, with green walls, rooftops, and a connecting valley integrating the stadium with the setting of the park. The masterplan balances architectural innovation with community engagement, creating a flexible space for year-round use. ‘The design philosophy reflects a commitment to cutting-edge infrastructure while paying tribute to the intrinsic connection between sustainable development, human activity and the natural world,’ shares Shireen Hamdan, General Manager of Populous KSA. Together with other landmark venues such as Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium and King Fahad International Stadium, the King Salman Stadium reinforces Saudi Arabia’s growing sports ecosystem.
conceptualizing the venues as seeds emerging from the earth
Populous has designed the King Salman Stadium to meet FIFA standards
serving as the headquarters for the Saudi Arabia national football team
the wider masterplan introduces diverse sports and leisure facilities
project info:
name: King Salman Stadium and Masterplan
architect: Populous | @wearepopulous
location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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