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A full house under the lights at Stadium 974 during the 2022 World Cup, Doha

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Sport

Middle East Stadiums and Arenas

Middle East stadiums and arenas are some of the most striking sports venues on earth, from the golden bowl of Lusail to Formula 1 circuits under floodlights. A new generation of World Cup stadiums is rising in Saudi Arabia for 2034, making the region a destination for sports travel for years to come.

Updated

At a glance

Stadiums and Arenas at a glance

Landmark venue
Lusail Stadium, Qatar (about 88,000 for the 2022 final)
Next big host
Saudi Arabia, 2034 FIFA World Cup
F1 venues
Bahrain, Jeddah, Qatar, Abu Dhabi
Top indoor arenas
Etihad Arena, Coca-Cola Arena, Kingdom Arena
Best months to visit
October to April

A region built for the big occasion

Few parts of the world have built so much, so boldly, for sport. In little more than a decade Qatar raised a full set of World Cup stadiums, the UAE added two of the busiest indoor arenas in the world, and four Formula 1 circuits now light up the Gulf calendar. Each venue is designed for the climate, with shaded roofs, cooling systems and evening start times that make a winter match night something to remember.

The next chapter is being written in Saudi Arabia, which will host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. Plans include new stadiums in Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar and Abha, and one of the most dramatic venues ever proposed: a stadium set on the edge of the Tuwaiq escarpment at Qiddiya. Our page on Expo 2030 and the 2034 World Cup follows the program as it takes shape.

For visitors, the venues are part of the trip. Many sit beside the best hotels and dining in their cities, from Lusail in Qatar to Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, and the districts growing around them are some of the most watched in Gulf Luxury Real Estate. Start with our Sport hub for the full calendar.

Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi seen from above at night, its bowl glowing red during a concert.
Photo: ZSCmkt · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

The great venues

Stadiums, arenas and circuits that define sport in the region, built and planned.

Football

Lusail Stadium

Lusail, Qatar

The golden, lantern-inspired bowl that hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup final, the largest stadium in Qatar. It sits at the heart of Lusail, a new city of hotels, marinas and boulevards north of Doha.

Football and athletics

Khalifa International Stadium

Doha, Qatar

Qatar's national stadium, first opened in 1976 and rebuilt with its signature twin arches. It has hosted the Asian Games, World Athletics Championships and World Cup matches, and sits in the Aspire Zone sports district.

Football

Al Bayt Stadium

Al Khor, Qatar

Designed after the traditional Bedouin tent, with a retractable roof, it staged the opening match of the 2022 World Cup. One of the most photographed stadiums in the world.

Football

Stadium 974

Doha, Qatar

Built from shipping containers on the waterfront and designed to be taken apart, it is a landmark of modular architecture. Its number honors Qatar's international dialing code.

Under constructionFootball

King Fahd International Stadium

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Riyadh's classic stadium, known for its white tensile roof shaped like a ring of tents, opened in 1987. It is being redeveloped as a major venue for the 2034 World Cup.

Announced2034 World Cup

King Salman International Stadium

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Planned as the largest stadium in the Kingdom and the centerpiece of the 2034 World Cup, with a capacity of more than 90,000. It is designed to be the main stage of the tournament.

Under construction2034 World Cup

Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium

Qiddiya, near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

A stadium set on the edge of a 200-meter cliff in the Tuwaiq mountains, with a retractable roof, pitch and LED facade. It will anchor Qiddiya's sports and entertainment city.

Football

King Abdullah Sports City (The Jewel)

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Jeddah's gleaming stadium, nicknamed the Jewel, has hosted Spanish and Italian Super Cups and the FIFA Club World Cup. It is a planned 2034 World Cup venue.

Under constructionFootball

Aramco Stadium

Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia

A new stadium on the Eastern Province waterfront, with a design inspired by the sea and the swirl of water. It is planned for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup and the 2034 World Cup.

Football

Zayed Sports City Stadium

Abu Dhabi, UAE

The UAE capital's largest stadium, with its sweeping arched roof, has staged FIFA Club World Cups and Asian Cup matches. It is part of a wider sports complex of tennis, ice rink and bowling facilities.

Indoor arena

Etihad Arena

Yas Bay, Abu Dhabi, UAE

The UAE's largest indoor arena, on the Yas Bay waterfront, hosts UFC fight nights, NBA preseason games and world-tour concerts. Restaurants and hotels sit steps from the doors.

Official site ↗
Indoor arena

Coca-Cola Arena

City Walk, Dubai, UAE

Dubai's largest indoor arena, opened in 2019, with room for about 17,000. It brings boxing, basketball, comedy and the biggest touring music acts to the heart of the city.

Official site ↗
Indoor arena

Kingdom Arena

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

A modern indoor arena in north Riyadh that has quickly become a home of world title boxing and big Riyadh Season events. See our page on fight nights in Riyadh.

Motorsport

Yas Marina Circuit

Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Home of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix since 2009 and the twilight finale of the Formula 1 season, with its hotel straddling the track. Visitors can drive or ride the circuit year-round.

Official site ↗
Motorsport

Bahrain International Circuit

Sakhir, Bahrain

Home of the first Formula 1 Grand Prix in the Middle East in 2004, now raced under lights. It also runs track days, drag racing and endurance events.

Official site ↗
Motorsport

Jeddah Corniche Circuit

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

One of the fastest street circuits in Formula 1, racing at night along the Red Sea shore since 2021. See our page on Formula 1 in the Middle East.

Motorsport

Lusail International Circuit

Lusail, Qatar

Built for MotoGP, which races here at night, and home of the Qatar Formula 1 Grand Prix. A floodlit circuit just north of Doha.

Cricket

Dubai International Stadium

Dubai Sports City, UAE

A ring of lights around the pitch makes this cricket ground one of the most distinctive anywhere. It is the home of the region's top cricket; see our cricket page.

The venues at a glance

VenueCityBest known forStatus
Lusail StadiumLusail2022 World Cup finalOpen
Khalifa International StadiumDohaNational stadiumOpen
King Fahd International StadiumRiyadhTent roof, 2034 venueUnder construction
King Salman International StadiumRiyadhPlanned 2034 centerpieceAnnounced
Prince Mohammed bin Salman StadiumQiddiyaCliff-edge stadiumUnder construction
Etihad ArenaAbu DhabiUFC, concertsOpen
Coca-Cola ArenaDubaiConcerts, boxingOpen
Yas Marina CircuitAbu DhabiF1 season finaleOpen
Bahrain International CircuitSakhirFirst F1 race in the regionOpen
Jeddah Corniche CircuitJeddahNight street raceOpen

Seeing a game or touring a venue

Tickets for league football, concerts and fights are sold through each event's official platform; buy early for Formula 1 and title fights. Most venues are a short taxi ride from the main hotel districts, such as Riyadh's luxury hotels and Doha's finest stays. The Events Calendar lists what is on each month.

Questions travelers ask

Can I visit the Qatar World Cup stadiums?

Yes. Several are in regular use for league and international football, and some offer guided visits. Lusail and Khalifa International are easy to reach by the Doha Metro.

Where will the 2034 World Cup be played?

In Saudi Arabia, with stadiums planned in Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar, Abha and NEOM. Several are already under construction; see Expo 2030 and the 2034 World Cup.

What is the most unusual stadium in the region?

Qatar's Stadium 974, made of shipping containers, is hard to beat today. In the future, the cliff-edge stadium at Qiddiya promises to be one of the most spectacular in the world.

When is the best time to go to a match or race?

October to April, when evenings are pleasant. Formula 1 races run from spring to the Abu Dhabi finale in December; see Formula 1 in the Middle East.

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