Saudi Arabia's Sports Ministry has tendered a contract for the expansion of the Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Stadium in Riyadh.

It issued the request for proposals on 8 April and expects to recieve bids on 14 June.

The stadium's current capacity is 22,188 seats and the expansion aims to increase the seating capacity to approximately 45,000. The expansion project comes as the kingdom prepares to host the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup in 2027.

Capital projects

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

The Sports Ministry had 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.

In July last year, the ministry invited construction companies to submit prequalification documents for the main construction contracts for the schemes that are part of the capital projects programme.

The projects, which are set for completion before the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, include:

• 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.