Qatar Stadium 974 Location & Seating: Complete Details

Stadium 974 is a football stadium in Ras Abu Aboud, Doha, Qatar, approximately 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) east of central Doha and constructed using 974 recycled shipping containers. Officially opened on 30 November 2021, This stadium made history as the first fully demountable stadium in FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) World Cup history, with a capacity ranging between 40,000 to 44,089 spectators depending on configuration.

Stadium is hosting Qatar International Food Festival 2026 from 14 Jan – 25 Jan 2026.

Welcome to Qatar

Welcome to Qatar, a nation where Stadium 974 represents innovation in sustainable architecture and modern football venue design. Qatar’s international dialing code is +974, which directly inspired both the stadium’s name and design concept.

The stadium is located in the Ras Abu Aboud district along the Arabian Gulf coastline, offering spectacular views of Doha’s West Bay skyline and serving as a gateway to Qatar’s maritime heritage and contemporary sports infrastructure.

Design and Construction of Stadium

Fenwick Iribarren Architects led the design with specialist partners.
Schlaich Bergermann Partner and Hilson Moran provided engineering input.
Construction was managed by HBK Contracting Company, DCB-QA, and Time Qatar.

Design and Construction Qatar Stadium 974

The stadium uses 974 repurposed shipping containers and modular steel elements.
It has a two-tier layout divided by luxury box sections.
Floor area is 93,200 square metres (1,003,129 square feet).

Gross volume equals 563,600 cubic metres (19,901,651 cubic feet).
Procurement began in 2017 and environmental site work started in October 2017.
Main construction began on 1 November 2019.

The primary structure finished in March 2021.

History

It was initially announced under the name Ras Abu Aboud Stadium and officially renamed during a virtual launch event on 20 November 2021. The stadium hosted its first match on 30 November 2021 during the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup opening day between the United Arab Emirates and Syria, achieving a 2-1 result.

Construction time for Stadium was approximately 3 years from groundbreaking to completion, establishing new benchmarks for temporary sports infrastructure.

Highlights of the Stadium

Stadium 974 stands out for three main reasons:

The numerical significance of 974.
The maritime design tributes.
Its status as FIFA’s first demountable World Cup stadium.

The Number 974

It represents both Qatar’s international dialing code (+974) and the exact quantity of shipping containers used in construction, creating a double symbolic meaning that honors the nation’s identity.

Stadium 974’s name was revealed during the November 2021 launch event, replacing the original Ras Abu Aboud Stadium designation and emphasizing the venue’s unique modular construction methodology.

Maritime Tribute

Stadium pays tribute to Doha’s maritime heritage through its strategic portside location, shipping container architecture, and proximity to the harbor located directly in the neighborhood.

The distinctive, boldly colorful arena echoes the nearby port and Doha’s longtime seafaring traditions, with containers customized to include concession stands, restrooms, and seating areas positioned to maximize views of the Arabian Gulf.

FIFA First

Stadium 974 became FIFA’s first fully demountable covered football stadium, setting unprecedented standards for cost-effective sustainability and temporary sports venue design.

The stadium received the 2022 IABSE Award for Innovation in Construction and the BIM AWARD 2023 second prize in the category BIM GOES GREEN, demonstrating international recognition for its revolutionary approach to stadium architecture.

Stadium 974 Location and How To Reach?

Stadium 974 is located in Ras Abu Aboud, Doha, Qatar, approximately 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) east of central Doha on a 450,000 square-meter (111-acre) waterfront site near the Port and Hamad International Airport.

The stadium’s address is Ras Abu Aboud, Doha, Qatar, situated adjacent to the Ras Bu Abboud Expressway with views overlooking Doha’s West Bay skyline and positioned a few kilometers from the eastern end of the Corniche and less than 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from the National Museum of Qatar.

Reaching Stadium 974 By Doha Metro

Take the Doha Metro Gold Line to Ras Bu Abboud station.
The station is about 800 m (0.5 miles) from the stadium.
Walk time is around 15 minutes from the station.
The Gold Line connects with the Red Line and Green Line at interchange stations.
Metro services run frequently and daily.
Follow station signage to Stadium 974.

Reaching Stadium 974 By Car

Use the Ras Bu Abboud Expressway from central Doha heading east.
Follow signs for Ras Abu Aboud and Stadium 974.
Travel time from central Doha is about 10-15 minutes, subject to traffic.
From Hamad International Airport the drive is about 15-20 minutes.

Parking Facilities

Free parking is available at designated lots near Ashghal, Kahramaa, DECC and the Ministry of Municipality.
Paid parking is available at City Centre and Gate Mall.
Event organisers encourage carpooling and use of drop-off points.
Karwa and ride-hailing drop-off and pick-up zones sit southeast of the stadium.

Reaching Stadium 974 By Taxi, Uber, Careem

Request a Karwa ride or other to “Stadium” or give “Ras Abu Aboud, Doha” to the driver.
Central Doha rides take about 10-15 minutes.
Fares from central Doha range QR 20-40 depending on traffic.
Fares from central Doha range QR 20-40 depending on traffic.
Airport fares range QR 40-60.
Drop-off and pick-up zones are clearly signed for ride-hailing services.

Stadium 974 Seating Map

Stadium offers around 44,089 seats for FIFA WC 2022 and subsequent tournaments, arranged in a compact rectangular bowl with two primary seating tiers and a continuous roof ring.

The seating is split into eight structural sectors, each containing lower and upper stand modules that can be dismantled and reassembled in new configurations.

Seating is organised in four broad ticket categories that mirror FIFA’s global stadium standard.

Category 1 seats occupy the central sideline blocks on both the west and east stands, close to the halfway line, offering the best viewing angles.
Category 2 seats extend further along the sideline and into some corner blocks, slightly higher or further from the halfway line.
Category 3 seats sit mainly behind the goals and in remaining corner sections, providing a more budget‑friendly view of the pitch.
Category 4 seats, reserved for Qatar residents during FIFA WC 2022, were mainly positioned in upper tiers behind the goals.

Hospitality suites, VIP lounges and media tribunes occupy the mid‑tier on the west side, with skyboxes and press facilities integrated into container modules overlooking the halfway line.

Accessible seating is distributed along the main concourse level, giving wheelchair users and companions clear sightlines from multiple sides of the pitch and step‑free access from lifts and ramps.

Colour‑coded seating and exposed containers make it easy for fans to navigate to blocks, with clear signage and digital wayfinding used during major events.

A Brief, Action-Packed Life

Stadium operational life has been intense despite a relatively short calendar span from late 2021 to at least early 2025.

It relied on natural ventilation and avoided artificial cooling systems.
Sea breezes from the Arabian Gulf helped cool the venue.

Tournament Summary

Stadium 974 hosted matches across 5 major tournaments, establishing itself as a versatile venue for international football competitions despite its temporary designation.

Year	Tournament	Fixtures hosted
2021	FIFA Arab Cup	6 fixtures
2022	FIFA World Cup	7 fixtures
2024	FIFA Intercontinental Cup	2 fixtures
2024	Trophée des Champions	1 fixture
2025	FIFA Arab Cup	4 fixtures

2021 FIFA Arab Cup

During the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup, Stadium staged six matches.

UAE vs Syria, 30 Nov 2021 (opening match)
UAE vs Mauritania, 3 Dec 2021
Sudan vs Egypt, 4 Dec 2021
Jordan vs Palestine, 7 Dec 2021
Tunisia vs Egypt (semi), 15 Dec 2021
Egypt vs Qatar (third place), 18 Dec 2021

2022 FIFA World Cup

Stadium hosted seven matches at FIFA WC 2022, all in the evening, taking advantage of natural ventilation from the Gulf.

Mexico vs Poland, 22 Nov 2022
Portugal vs Ghana, 24 Nov 2022
France vs Denmark, 26 Nov 2022
Brazil vs Switzerland, 28 Nov 2022
Poland vs Argentina, 30 Nov 2022
Serbia vs Switzerland, 2 Dec 2022
Brazil vs South Korea, Round of 16, 5 Dec 2022

2024 FIFA Intercontinental Cup

In December 2024 Stadium became one of the venues for the re‑launched FIFA Intercontinental Cup, complementing Lusail Stadium, which hosted the final involving Real Madrid.

Botafogo vs Pachuca, 11 Dec 2024
Pachuca vs Al Ahly, 14 Dec 2024

2025 FIFA Arab Cup

During the 2025 FIFA Arab Cup, this Stadium again served as a group‑stage venue.

Iraq vs Bahrain, 3 Dec 2025
Sudan vs Iraq, 6 Dec 2025
Oman vs Comoros, 8 Dec 2025
UAE vs Kuwait, 9 Dec 2025

Post-World Cup

Legacy plans originally suggested that Stadium would be dismantled after FIFA WC 2022 and reassembled abroad, with Maldonado in Uruguay discussed as a candidate host for a future 2030 FIFA World Cup bid, alongside options to relocate the structure to an African country.

Subsequently, FIFA confirmed a 2030 World Cup hosting plan centred on Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with opening centenary games in South America, and the Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay bid did not proceed.

ESPN reporting and the updated Stadium 974 profile show that, as of December 2025, the stadium remains on its original Ras Abu Aboud site, still carrying World Cup branding while being reused for tournaments like the 2024 Intercontinental Cup, the 2024 Trophée des Champions and the 2025 FIFA Arab Cup.

Legacy and Sustainability

Stadium embodies Qatar’s goal to link sports infrastructure with long‑term sustainable design benchmarks rather than short‑term event construction.

The GSAS 5‑Star certifications, demountable structure and water‑efficient systems position the venue as a reference project for modular, low‑waste stadiums that can be adapted, moved or broken down into smaller community facilities in Africa, South America or other regions.

Key Sustainability Highlights:

Achieved GSAS 5‑Star Design & Build and Class A* Construction Management ratings under GORD, reflecting high performance in energy, materials, waste and site management.
Used modular containers and prefabricated steel frames to cut conventional material use and reduce on‑site waste compared with a typical 40,000‑seat concrete stadium.
Implemented water‑efficient construction methods that reduced water use by about 40 percent versus standard stadium projects, supporting Qatar’s wider World Cup sustainability strategy.
Relied on natural ventilation from its portside location instead of full‑bowl mechanical cooling, lowering operational energy demand during evening matches.
Demonstrated a design for disassembly model in which entire seating sectors, concourse slabs and service modules can be removed and reconfigured into new stadia, arenas or civic buildings.

Together, these measures align Stadium 974 with Qatar National Vision 2030 goals around resource efficiency and sustainable urban development.

Nearby Attractions

Stadium is surrounded by 4 major attractions within walking distance or short drives: the Mina District (Old Doha Port), luxury cruise terminals, Box Park, and La Cigale Hotel, providing entertainment and accommodation options for visitors.

The Picture-Perfect Mina District

The Mina District is a Mediterranean-inspired neighborhood. It features pastel-coloured buildings and cobblestone streets.

Dining options exceed 50 restaurants and cafes.Shops number around 100 retail and gift outlets.
Highlights include the Chabrat Al Mina fish market and waterfront dining.

Visitors can see World Wide Walls street art and the Flag Plaza.

A Luxury Cruise Destination

Old Doha Port functions as Doha’s main cruise terminal, receiving ships such as MSC World Europa and other international liners during the winter season.

Fans staying on cruise ships during tournaments can reach Stadium within minutes by shuttle, car or a short taxi ride along the Corniche.

Visitors enjoy promenade views of ships and yachts.

Box Park

Box Park is a waterfront development near Old Doha Port that converts colourful shipping containers into cafés, shops and viewing platforms facing the sea and skyline.

The visual link between Box Park’s stacked containers and Stadium 974’s container façade reinforces the district’s identity as a hub of contemporary container architecture along the Corniche.

La Cigale Hotel

La Cigale Hotel, Managed by Accor, is a 5‑star property in the Al Sadd area, roughly 7–9 km (4–5.5 mi) west of Stadium 974, with convenient access to central Doha, Souq Waqif and Msheireb Downtown.

Guests can reach Stadium 974 in about 15–20 minutes by car or taxi via Suhaim Bin Hamad Street and main city arteries leading to Ras Bu Abboud Expressway.

FAQs

The stadium is located in the Ras Abu Aboud district of Doha, about 10 km (6.2 mi) east of central Doha, beside the Old Doha Port waterfront and near the Doha Corniche.
This location places the stadium close to Doha Port’s Mina District, Box Park and major city hotels and landmarks.

The stadium has a tournament seating capacity of about 44,089 spectators for FIFA World Cup and similar events.
The modular design allows the capacity to be scaled down or reconfigured for future uses.

To reach Stadium 974 by metro, travel on the Doha Metro Gold Line to Ras Bu Abboud station, then follow the signed pedestrian route of roughly 800 m, taking about 15–20 minutes on foot on event days.
This route is the core of the public transit plan for the Qatar 974 stadium location seating, complete details covered in this guide.

Yes, The Stadium continues to be used after the 2022 FIFA World Cup, hosting events such as the 2024 FIFA Intercontinental Cup, the 2024 Trophée des Champions and matches at the 2025 FIFA Arab Cup and the 2024–2025 Ooredoo Stars League.
As of December 2025, the stadium remains in its original Ras Abu Aboud location rather than having been fully dismantled.

The venue is called Stadium 974 because it uses 974 shipping containers in its structure and because 974 is Qatar’s international telephone code.
The naming reinforces both the modular design concept and the stadium’s role as a symbolic “gateway” to Qatar for global tournaments.