UAE Ready to Get World Impressed in Club World Cup.. “Zayed Sports City” and “Hazza bin Zayed Stadium” are the Destination of the World Champs

Football fans around the world will be looking in days at the UAE that is getting prepared to receive the global football stars as the FIFA Club World Cup 2017, slated for December 6.
It was not surprising that the UAE has been given the honor to host the tournament in 2017 and 2018 as the Gulf country has impressed the whole world when the FIFA Club World Cup was hosted by the country in 2009 and 2010.
Giving the UAE this honor reflects the country’s outstanding sporting status and the confidence of the FIFA that the UAE, its capabilities and its world-class infrastructure and sporting facilities will impress the world again.
The tournament will be played at Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi, and Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain.
Mentioning Zayed Sports City, we immediately remember the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Founding President of the UAE, as the city was named after him.
Since its establishment in 1980, the city’s Stadium hosted the games of the most prominent tournaments, national teams and clubs as well as superstars from around the world. It also hosted largest entertainment, art and national celebrations in the UAE.
Located in the heart of Abu Dhabi, Zayed Sports City Stadium is an iconic landmark in addition to being the largest multi-purpose stadium in the Gulf. It has developed a great history and heritage, and has cemented its place in the country’s history by being featured on the AED 200 banknote.
The stadium was opened in 1979 and has recently been renovated, with many of the facilities and amenities upgraded to ensure that it complies with international standards and can be used for a wide range of events.
The stadium hosted the 1996 AFC Asian Cup including the final. The stadium also hosted the 2007 Gulf Cup of Nations final between the United Arab Emirates and Oman. The semi-finals and finals of 2009 and 2010 FIFA Club World Cup were also held at the stadium.
Zayed Sports City Stadium was the crux of the first project phase, and a 60,000 seat stadium was constructed. This phase also included perimeter fencing, utility services and an internal road network. It was completed in 1979 and the stadium was inaugurated in January 1980.
Renovations throughout years reduced the capacity to more than 43,000 seats.
There are 42,355 general entry seats on two levels plus 1,056 VIP seats, 380 seats for institutions, 132 seats for internal platforms, 50 seats for royal cabins and 277 media seats.
In 2016, the stadium received 1,3 million people and the record of fan attendance was seen in the final match of the 2009 FIFA Club World Cup as 43,050 people attended the Barcelona- Estudiantes game.
Hosting the 2017 tournament by the UAE, the city’s stadium will make history again as it will host a group of global superstars.
The FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2017 will feature the world’s top club sides including CF Pachuca, Auckland City FC, Real Madrid and Al Jazira plus the winning teams of the CAF Champions League, AFC Champions League and the Copa Libertadores

Comprehensive Preparations for the Club World Cup
Throughout the years, the stadium has undergone significant renovations to ensure that it can accommodate the high-quality international events it was designed for. Hospitality areas, including the Royal Box interior and exterior, VIP seating and media seating were created to get the stadium prepared for the 2017 tournament.
In preparation for the 2009 FIFA Club World Cup, Populous led renovations including brand new team locker rooms, way-finding updates, refurbishments to the public facilities, updates to the Royal Box and installation of a new pitch lighting system. Two scoreboards at either end zone were added in 2003.
Three LED scoreboards are present in the venue as well as a sound system for spectators. The venue is fully lit to the standard required for HDTV broadcasts.
Surrounding the stadium is a pre-event plaza, then a series of fountains. Beyond this is the ring road, parking lots, training pitches and the rest of the Zayed Sports City facilities.

 

Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Stadium of the Year in 2014
Inspired by the palm trees that are such a distinctive feature of life in the United Arab Emirates, the façade is a truly unique aspect of a stadium that was built in a record time of 17 months and which opened in early 2014.
The Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium holds 25,000 spectators, who are sheltered from the sun by its iconic roof, which also helps create a very special atmosphere during matches.
Comprising of 3,000 premium-category seats, the Hazza Bin Zayed is a superbly equipped stadium and an unmistakable landmark when night falls in Al Ain, thanks to the LED lights that top its roof and create strikingly colorful patterns.
The 45,000sqm stadium is hailed as one of the most modern and unique sporting venues in the Middle East. It is one of the most sophisticated sports venues in the region and is poised to become a central destination for citizens and residents in the United Arab Emirates, as well as tourists visiting from all over the world. The stadium was also named as the 2014’s Stadium of the Year.
One of the most characteristic elements of the stadium is the external facade which consists of fabric elements resembling the trunk of a palm tree that also can be lighted by LED lights.
The record of fan attendance was seen in the game between Al Ain and Al Hilal of Saudi as 24,204 have attended the game.
Over the past few years, the stadium has hosted numerous community events, national celebrations and several international and Arab football teams such as Manchester City, Hamburg, Roma, Frankfurt, Al Ahly and Zamalek of Egypt, and Al Hilal and Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia.
It has also hosted a number of international matches in the Asian Cup qualifiers and a number of friendly matches for national teams such as Japan, UAE and Saudi Arabia.
The stadium is part of another further development that covers 500,000 square meters and includes 700 apartments, green spaces, two office buildings, 50 restaurants, shops and a 172-room hotel.

Preparations of Al Ain-Based Stadium for World Cup
The Hazza bin Zayed Stadium has made infrastructural changes ahead of the December event, designed to enhance the fan experience and comply with FIFA regulations.
The stadium has made major technological advancements and is now the only stadium in the UAE capable of broadcasting matches in 4k ultra High Definition.
New LED lightening systems were installed in the stadium to comply with the FIFA lightening standards. An initiative for cheering “Hitaf” will be applied in the stadium to allow the fans to listen to live commentary on matches through FM radio broadcasting.
During the tournament, the stadium will open 4 main gates for the fans and 18 internal gates to ensure the smooth and secured entry and exits. The media center was moved from the underground basement to the fifth floor of the stadium, doubling its capacity.

Integrated Security System

Zayed Sports City Stadium and Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium have the highest standards of safety and security in line with the standards of the FIFA. They are equipped with integrated techniques to ensure security of matches and achieve the safety of the public present in and out of the stadium.
Zayed Sports City Stadium upgraded its central control room to have the latest equipment and facilities, allowing effective communication with all components and teams within the stadium and to monitor the stadium and the seats of the fans.

More than 500 people will be taking part in process of securing the safety of various stadium facilities, players and the fans. As many as 60 exit paths are provided to evacuate the stadium in record time during emergencies.
Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium has a modern monitoring room that is linked to 500 surveillance cameras that covers the entire stadium. The stadium has 14 fire escapees and 10 public gates. Around 550 people will be taking part in process of securing the safety of various stadium facilities, players and the fans in each game.

Tournament Matches and Venues

Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi, and Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain, will host the games of the tournament which takes place on December 6-16.
On December 6, the Abu Dhabi-based Al Jazira club will kick off the competition against Auckland City at Hazza Bin Zayed stadium in Al Ain
In the Quarter-finals, Pachuca of Mexico will play against Wydad Casablanca of Morocco while the winner of the Al Jazira-Auckland game will play against AFC champions. The two games will be hosted by Zayed Sports City Stadium.
In December 12, Hazza Bin Zayed stadium will host its last two games of the tournament. The first game will define the fifth place team while the second one will be the first semi-finals game between Champions of the Conmebol-Pachuca/Wydad Casablanca.
Zayed Sports City Stadium will host the second Semi-final game between Al-Jazira/Auckland City