Awarded contract for membrane construction of “Aramco Stadium” in Saudi Arabia

Taiyo Kogyo Corporation (Tokyo Head Office: Setagaya-ku, Tokyo; Osaka Head Office: Yodogawa-ku, Osaka; President: Yumi Nomura), a company involved in large-scale membrane structures (tent structures) and civil engineering and logistics materials, has been awarded a contract through its Dubai subsidiary Taiyo Middle East LLC (Dubai, United Arab Emirates) for the design, manufacture, and construction of the Aramco Stadium in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia. The stadium will be built in the city of Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, and is scheduled to be completed in 2027. The stadium will be the venue for Asia’s largest soccer tournament to be held in 2027, and will also host matches for an international soccer tournament to be held in 2034.

Aramco Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium with a capacity of 47,000 people to be built in Al-Khobar City in the eastern part of Saudi Arabia. The stadium features an organic design inspired by the shape of the whirlpools seen on the city’s coast. Taiyo Kogyo was awarded the contract to design, manufacture, and install the interior membrane of the aluminum roof, as well as the membrane portion of the upper roof, in addition to the membrane panels that will be installed between the petal-shaped aluminum roofs surrounding the stadium.

The membrane material used in this facility is called PTFE membrane*. The extremely light weight of the membrane material significantly reduces the structural load, allowing for a more economical design of the supporting steel structure. The material allows natural light to enter the building in a diffused manner, reducing the use of lighting during the day. It also reduces heat buildup, which improves spectator comfort and contributes to energy efficiency. In addition, it has the ability to easily form tensile structures and curved shapes, enabling complex architectural forms to be realized without compromising structural performance.

* PTFE membrane: A strong composite material made of glass fiber fabric coated with fluorocarbon resin, which was used in the world’s first permanent membrane structure building, LaVerne University (constructed in 1973, California, USA). Comparing a cross-sectional view of a membrane sample from the time of the University of LaVerne’s construction with a cross-sectional view of a current membrane sample using micrographs, no noticeable deterioration can be seen. Stain resistance, color tone, translucency, and protection of the woven fabric also remain unchanged, demonstrating excellent durability.

Once completed, the stadium will be the main venue for Asia’s largest international soccer tournament to be held in Saudi Arabia in 2027, and will also be capable of hosting group stage through quarterfinal matches in the international soccer tournament scheduled for 2034, thanks to a design that meets FIFA’s international standards. The stadium is also planned to be able to host matches from the group stages to the quarterfinals of the 2034 international soccer tournament. The stadium will also serve as the home of Al Qadisiyah FC, a professional Saudi Arabian soccer club.

Membrane construction will begin in January 2026. Preparations for Asia’s largest soccer tournament in 2027 will be underway with completion scheduled for June-July of the same year. Once completed, it is expected to serve as Saudi Arabia’s representative venue for sporting events, welcoming many visitors from home and abroad.

Taiyo Kogyo has been involved in the construction of membrane stadiums around the world, including the Khalifa International Stadium in Qatar and the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the United States. With this latest order, Taiyo Kogyo will further strengthen its track record and credibility in the Middle East region and contribute to the creation of sustainable and comfortable spaces.

• Location: Al-Khobar City, Saudi Arabia
• Capacity: Approximately 47,000 people
• Client: Saudi Aramco
• Design supervision: Populous
• Implementation Design: Dar Al Handasah – Shair & Partners
• Structural Design: Maffeis Engineering
• Prime contractor: Six Construct Saudi & Al Bawani (SBJV)
• Facade subcontractor: Technical Glass & Aluminium (TGAC)
• PTFE membrane subcontractor: Taiyo Middle East LLC
• Membrane material: PTFE membrane
• Membrane area: 45,000 m2
• Membrane manufacturing: Mizuho Plant of Taiyo Kogyo Corporation (Kyoto, Japan), Shanghai Taiyo Kogyo Membrane Co.
• Membrane construction period: January – June 2026
• Facility opening: June-July 2026 (planned)

Dubai Subsidiary of Taiyo Kogyo Corporation

• Founded: 2004
• Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• President: Ismoilov Mirodiljon
• Website: https://taiyomc-me.com/

Taiyo Kogyo is a leading manufacturer of large membrane surface structures that are economical, easy to install, translucent, and well designed. Under the corporate philosophy of “Unlocking the infinite possibilities of membranes to deliver an inspiring and comfortable environment to our customers. Under the corporate philosophy of “We will bring excitement and a comfortable environment to our customers by exploiting the infinite possibilities of membranes,” TSP Taiyo has been supporting the safety and security of society by utilizing the characteristics of light and strong materials to expand its business in various fields including construction, as symbolized by the roof of the giant dome, civil engineering, logistics, and environmental fields.

Together with group companies such as TSP Taiyo Corporation, which provides event consulting services, and ACTIO Corporation, which manages facilities, we are working to “make the world softer and the future warmer. We aim to “make the world soft and the future warm. We aim to “soften the world and warm the future.