The King Abdullah Football Stadium, "the new national stadium of Saudi Arabia" and home to Jeddah's two Premier League clubs, Al-Ittihad FC and Al-Ahli SC, was officially opened on Thursday, according to Mark Baber of INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL. The 60,000-seat stadium is part of the King Abdullah Sports City development, and "has taken 14 months to construct." The project was designed by global architects Arup Associates, managed by Aramco and built by Belgium contractor BESIX, along with local firm Al Muhaidib Contracting. The stadium was "built to FIFA requirements, and includes a 5-star quality premium lounge, boxes and VVIP facilities; amenities for visiting top international athletes and press facilities." While the stadium has "at least 308 seats" for special needs patrons, including separate toilets and elevators, "hopes the stadium's opening might provide a break-through in allowing Saudi female spectators are yet to materialise" (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 5/1). In Jeddah, Khaled Al-Ghamdi wrote Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz "inaugurated Thursday evening the King Abdullah Sports City" and attended the final between Al-Ahli of Jeddah and Al-Shabab of Riyadh for 2014 Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Football Cup (SAUDI GAZETTE, 5/1). In Dubai, Al Arabiya wrote the facility, "dubbed the Jewel," cost around $507M. During Thursday's opening ceremony, a boy holding "an illuminated, football-shape orb was lifted by a wire high into the air onto a platform," where he passed the orb to King Abdullah, "who thanks the boy and delivers a short speech -- a rarity for the Saudi ruler, who seldom speaks in public." King Abdullah said, “I thank you for this invitation to inaugurate Sports City for the dear people of Saudi Arabia and its sons. You deserve more and more" (AL ARABIYA, 5/2).
