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Next month, Al Thumama Stadium will be the latest FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 venue to be inaugurated when it hosts HH the Amir Cup Final between Al Rayyan and Al Sadd. The October 22 unveiling will mark the completion of the sixth tournament-ready stadium after Khalifa International, Al Janoub, Education City, Ahmad Bin Ali and Al Bayt. The 40,000-seat arena will also be one of six Qatar 2022 venues to be featured during the FIFA Arab Cup later this year. Located 12km from Doha city centre and in the vicinity of Hamad International Airport, Al Thumama represents both the past and the future not only of Qatar, but the whole Arab world. Qatari architect Ibrahim M Jaidah’s inspiration for the stadium was a design that represents the ‘gahfiya’ a traditional woven cap worn by men and boys across the Middle East. The gahfiya forms a fundamental layer of the traditional clothing of the region. It is also a symbol of dignity and independence. In May 2018, the venue’s design won acclaim when it earned the MIPIM/The Architectural Review Future Project Award. page 16
