Capital District to get 65,000-seat stadium with moving roof

ABU DHABI // The biggest stadium in the UAE will be constructed in the capital, it was announced yesterday. Mubadala Development, an investment arm of the Government, is inviting interested parties to submit relevant documentation next month, ahead of any contract for the proposed 65,000-seat venue. The move is seen as the first sign of the Capital District taking shape on the mainland. The building will feature a "large-scale, moving domed roof", according to the tender notice. Mubadala officials declined to comment on its stadium plans yesterday.

The facility, which is intended as the future home for the national football team and a venue for major concerts and exhibitions, is one of the first projects announced for the Capital District, which will be built between Mohammed bin Zayed City and Abu Dhabi International Airport. The proposed development covers more than 45sq km and is expected to include housing for 370,000 residents by the time it is completed in 2030.

It is hoped that the new stadium will help Abu Dhabi become a leading sporting destination; it has already brought major international sporting events to the capital, such as the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and it will host next month's Fifa Club World Cup.

igale@thenational.ae