For all its envy-enducing skyscrapers, theme parks and modern marvels, the one puzzle piece that Dubai has been missing is a truly world class sports stadium (especially with the Opera house is nearing completion). Well, rest assured, that final piece has been filled with the announcment of the new Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid football stadium.
Located in Al Aweer, the state-of-the-art 60,000-seat stadium will come fully air-conditioned, and house facilities including exercise pitches, sports training hall, sports museum and conference and exhibition auditoriums – all for the princily sum of Dhs3 billion.
Models of the stadium – unveiling at Meydan Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai – show that it will be raised off the ground in the shape of a semi-sphere.
Fully compliant with FIFA regulations, once it is completed, it will come as a surprise to nobody that the stadium will host some showcase friendly and international matches, making it seriously big news for sports fans in the region, nay, the world.