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All about Kuwait National Stadium (Jaber al-Ahmad Stadium)

A Legacy of Victory: Kuwait National Stadium Celebrates the Nation's Sporting Achievements

In contrast to the monotony of the surrounding desert, the multipurpose stadium stands out like a sculpture. A single-layer cable-net shape with a double-curved, saddle-shaped surface was made possible by the grandstand’s strongly undulating top, which was achieved by maximizing the viewing angle.

The roof opening above the field is made up of the structural opening, the cable tension ring that is sympathetic to the outer compression ring, and the cut-out in the roof skin that follows the form of the grandstand.

Fans at Kuwait National Stadium in Safat, Kuwait, are protected from the scorching desert heat by a tensioned fabric membrane canopy. Average summer temperatures in Kuwait routinely surpass 130 degrees Fahrenheit. The PTFE-coated fabric covered 147,637 square feet of the roof and was laid in 282-foot spans that extend inward from the roof’s periphery to form an open ring 348 feet in diameter.

Kuwait National Stadium
Kuwait National Stadium

The stadium has air-conditioned concourses, 52 luxury boxes, and numerous amenities for spectators and competitors, and it has received certification from both FIFA and the International Association of Athletics Federations (aka IAAF) for hosting international soccer and athletic events. The attendee capacity is 64,000.

History of Kuwait National Stadium (Jaber al-Ahmad International Stadium)

The Jaber al-Ahmad International Stadium in the Ardhiyah neighborhood of Kuwait City, Kuwait, is a multipurpose stadium. It was finished in 2009 and is mostly used for sports and football events. There’s space for 60,000 spectators in the stadium’s seats, plus another 6,000 in the parking area, and 54 VIP suites for business executives. The building has been shuttered since the second quarter of 2010 because of a failure to pass structural integrity tests brought about by an error on the part of structural engineers. But it didn’t officially open until December 18, 2015. Recently, the Kuwait national football team has called Jaber Al-Ahmad stadium home.

The stadium honors Shaikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, the late Amir of Kuwait. Kuwait’s victory in the 20th Arabian Gulf Cup was celebrated there. Bahrain’s national team defeated Kuwait’s 3–1 in a preseason international friendly game.

Jaber al-Ahmad Stadium
Jaber al-Ahmad Stadium

The stadium began experiencing issues following the 2010 AFC Cup Final, which ultimately led to its shutdown in 2011. The renovation work began in 2014 and was completed in 2015.

On November 28, 2015, it was announced that the 2015 Kuwait Champions Challenge would be reopened in honor of the late Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. World Stars XI faced up against the Kuwait XI. It ended in a 4-2 victory for the Kuwait XI. The audiovisual opening presentation, LET’S PLAY!, was created by Laser System Europe and Groupe F and performed before the game. Rodolph Nasillski both wrote and directed it.

Since October 2015, FIFA has not recognized the Kuwait FA because of the government of Kuwait’s meddling in sports. As a result, FIFA forbade MLS players Steven Gerrard and Andrea Pirlo and Qatar Stars League side Al Sadd SC’s Xavi from taking the field.

Interior of Jaber al-Ahmad Stadium
Interior of Jaber al-Ahmad Stadium

The rumors about Kuwait National Stadium (Jaber al-Ahmad International Stadium)

The Emirates Stadium of Arsenal was the inspiration for this opulent structure, which was constructed in the real-life emirate of Kuwait. Although it was completed in 2007, Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait has largely remained unused.

The national stadium of this Middle Eastern kingdom of almost four million has only staged one senior-level match since its inauguration, in sharp contrast to the many ex-Olympic and World Cup sports sites that have gone vacant after a transient crowd rush.

The strange inactivity of the enormous steel building has made it a symbol of bureaucracy and a preference for silence on controversial issues in the area. There have been many rumors about who is to blame for the stadium’s shutdown (often involving structural issues), but few official explanations.

View of Jaber al-Ahmad Stadium
View of Jaber al-Ahmad Stadium

“Nothing structural is wrong with the stadium,” claimed Al-Kharafi, who was sure that his team had made no construction mistakes and had never been sued by the government for the stadium’s construction. He said that the stadium had been prepared for use for some time.

However, there has been widespread speculation in Kuwait about the structural integrity of the stadium ever since the final of the 2010 Asian Federation Cup (won by Syrian club Al-Ittihad) was played there in front of 58,604 spectators on November 6, 2010.

Jaber Al Ahmad Stadium is an architectural marvel constructed and designed to look like a traditional dhow fishing boat from a distance. In January, CNN toured the stadium under the direction of Khalid Bonashi, the stadium’s security head.

Kuwait National Stadium (Jaber al-Ahmad Stadium)
Kuwait National Stadium (Jaber al-Ahmad Stadium)

Everything in the stadium, from the fine sand on the athletics long jump box to the crystal clear water in the hydro-therapy pool to the gleaming blue carpeting in the VIP box, appeared pristine on that cold winter day.

CNN noticed two splits in the concrete beneath the stadium’s perimeter walkway during their tour. The columns had obviously been examined, maybe to determine their strength, and then reinforced. It was unclear if the columns were to blame for the stadium’s shutdown or if anything else had caused it.

Al-Kharafi claimed, “We’ve looked at those fissures.” We drilled holes in it to make sure the steel was solid, and it is. With the help of government authorities, Al-Kharafi said, they successfully completed structural integrity testing.

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