30 May 2017
The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) has awarded the contract to build the team training sites for the 2022 FIFA World Cup to two specialised Qatari companies. Nakheel Landscapes and Gulf Contracting will work with the SC to deliver the training sites to FIFA specifications by 2019, ensuring the highest quality and comfort during training sessions for all teams at the tournament.

All member associations participating in the first ever FIFA World Cup in the Arab World will be provided with team base training camps for their accommodation and training needs during the tournament. Each team base camp will be paired with training sites for the exclusive use of each participating nation. Some of the chosen locations include the vicinities of Aspire Zone, Qatar University, Doha Gulf Course, Al Sailiya and the West Bay area, with public sports grounds and parks included in the legacy planning for the facilities.  

SC Secretary General Hassan Al Thawadi said: “Team training sites are an essential part of a successful tournament, and we are dedicated to delivering the best quality training sites for an exceptional experience for the teams participating in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Awarding two Qatari companies the contact to build these facilities is a sign of our commitment to encouraging local companies to take part in the first World Cup in the region, leaving a lasting economic legacy for years to come.”

Meanwhile, Engineer Yasir Al Jamal, vice chairman of the Technical Delivery Office at the SC, added: “We’re delighted to begin work on this exciting project, which will guarantee state-of-the-art training facilities for all teams that participate in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Our goal is to offer the visiting teams the ideal conditions so that they can be at their best level during the tournament, while also building facilities which will offer lasting legacy opportunities for the local community.”

“This award comes as an important step towards hosting the first FIFA World Cup in the region, as we have progressed with six stadiums in main contract stage, in addition to Khalifa International Stadium which was completed earlier this month, and Ras Abu Aboud Stadium which will be awarded in the upcoming months,” added Al Jamal.

Each training site will consist of two FIFA-compliant, floodlit, natural grass pitches; ancillary facilities and changing rooms; team parking areas and spectator areas for public training sessions. The awarded contracts will complete Qatar’s football training facility infrastructure to the level required for the tournament, with the total number of training sites still to be agreed by FIFA.

Nakheel Landscapes will build all the training site facilities including site infrastructure, FIFA compliant pitches, as well as completing external works and landscaping. Meanwhile, Gulf Contracting will be in charge of the specialist works for modular, demountable and pre-fabricated buildings to be used as ancillary facilities and changing rooms.

Ghassan Oueijan, managing director of Nakheel Landscapes, said: “On behalf of Nakheel Landscapes’ partners and employees, I would like to thank the SC for giving us this opportunity to deliver such important sports venues that will serve the Qatari community and will be utilised during the FIFA World Cup. As a local company, we are very proud to be involved in the construction of this prestigious project, and we assure the SC that the training sites will be built to the highest standard within the agreed deadlines.”

Meanwhile, Grahame McCaig, general manager at Gulf Contracting, said: “As a Qatari company, we’re very proud to be associated with the 2022 World Cup. Hence we’re very pleased to have been awarded this prestigious contract by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, and will be providing quality facilities which the teams will enjoy utilising during the tournament.”

The training sites for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar will be delivered through a rollout plan to maximise the contribution of the local private sector and small to medium enterprises.

© The Peninsula 2017