The opening ceremony of the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 took place in Al Bayt Stadium, Doha. Produced by Katara Studios, the creative concept by Sila Sveta illustrated creation, collapse, and rebirth.
The set consisted of five scenic elements, the golden centrepiece a representation of an Arabian tent which was created as an inflatable. As the set rose towards the roof of the stadium, elegant shimmering tails fell from behind ornate fascias. The tails were formed from 22km of chrome-finished chains and our UK workshops provided vac formed panels for the fascias.
Automation was delivered by our Qmotion system; 20 axes of movement used to lift and collapse the set pieces, including the ten-minute strike. Eleven steel wire catenaries ran at height along the short axis of the pitch, connected back to the stadium to support the weight of the scenic items and to provide diversion of the winch lines.
We are no stranger to working in stadia and have previous experience of working in the Al Bayt Stadium for the AFC Asian Cup 2023. And yet no project is without challenge.
Delivering the show in eight weeks was a push. But having facilities in region meant we could mobilise at speed. The 20 winches were taken from stock and the set pieces manufactured, all the result of our ongoing expansion.
Protecting the field of play was a challenge. The total weight of the scenic items was approximately eight tonnes. But having prior experience, we were prepared for this. We transported items on and off pitch on custom trucks that used a total of 102 wheels to spread the load and prevent damage to the delicate surface.
Programming the automation was done in short order and overcame some dynamic loading issues. Managing variable loads that hang from a catenary system caused inconsistency of forces. But with time and testing, we perfected the lifting and lowering to achieve a level position across all pieces to deliver a beautiful and poignant performance.
