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Riyadh Developers Reveal New 45,000-Seat Murabba Stadium
The ambitious project, projected to be completed by 2032, will transform the Saudi capital’s downtown.
The New Murabba Development Company — part of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) — has revealed its ambitious plans for a new state-of-the-art stadium for Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh.
With a capacity exceeding 45,000 spectators, the Murabba Stadium will transform the city’s landscape and become an international hub for sports, entertainment and culture.
Michael Dyke, Al Murabba CEO, underscored the stadium’s significance, explaining, “This new stadium embodies Riyadh’s evolution into a vibrant global hub. It underscores our commitment to developing world-class infrastructure that showcases Saudi Arabia’s ongoing transformation”.
The massive architectural project, earmarked for completion by the end of 2032, will be far more than a simple sports and event venue. Its innovative structure, inspired by the multi-layered, scaly bark of the acacia tree, represents the coming together of Saudi tradition and modern innovation. This design philosophy is part of an overriding vision for a completely new square in Riyadh’s downtown area.
The Murabba Stadium is designed to provide an unrivaled experience for sports fans and event goers, with multi-purpose configurations that allow concerts, gaming tournaments, exhibitions, and educational gatherings to be hosted.
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The building is expected to play a vital role in boosting Riyadh’s tourist and consumer economy, and designers hope that the development will also help to further the Kingdom’s ambitious development goals and Vision 2030 strategy.
With its breathtaking design and multifunctional event-hosting capabilities, the Murabba Stadium is set to become an iconic Riyadh landmark, epitomizing the capital city’s aspirations and Saudi Arabia’s dynamic future as it diversifies away from an oil-based economy.
News
Checkout.com Set To Launch Card Issuing In The UAE
The payment service provider’s expansion is a first-of-its-kind investment and could reshape digital transactions across the region.
Checkout.com is laying the groundwork to become the first global payments platform to introduce card issuing in the United Arab Emirates — a move that could reshape how businesses in the region manage financial transactions.
The company plans to roll out its domestic card issuance offering in the UAE by 2026, subject to regulatory approval. The launch would give businesses the tools to issue both physical and virtual branded cards. This, in turn, opens up new ways to reward customers, streamline expense processes, and handle B2B payouts efficiently.
Checkout.com’s CEO and Founder, Guillaume Pousaz, revealed the plans during Thrive Abu Dhabi, the firm’s debut conference in the Emirates. Joined on stage by Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, General Manager for MENA, Pousaz presented to an audience of over 150 partners and merchants at Saadiyat Island. Also in attendance was H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications.
Abbondandolo highlighted the strategic importance of the announcement: “As a global business, we focus on bringing products to markets that our customers want and need. Today’s announcement is proof of our commitment to the MENA region and its rising influence in the digital economy. The appetite for innovation here is real, and we’re proud to be building the infrastructure that powers it”.
One early adopter of Checkout.com’s UAE acquiring services is Headout, a travel experiences marketplace, which recently named the payment provider as its main partner in Europe. The company has already begun card issuing there and is keen to expand that offering into MENA once approval is granted.
The expansion of services in the UAE and beyond builds on Checkout.com’s track record in the region. It was the first global payments firm to secure a Retail Payment Services license from the UAE’s Central Bank and was instrumental in rolling out Mada and Apple Pay in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
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The firm has also been rolling out new products: One of the latest is Flow Remember Me, currently in beta testing. It allows shoppers to store their card information once and access it across Checkout.com’s entire network, potentially cutting checkout times by up to 70%.
Earlier this year, Checkout.com also introduced Visa Direct’s Push-to-Card solution in the UAE, enabling both domestic and international payouts. Its collaboration with Mastercard has grown as well, making it easier for businesses to send funds directly to third-party cards securely and quickly.
With regional tech ambitions on the rise — spurred by initiatives like Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s 2031 Agenda — Checkout.com sees its role as one of a key enabler. “Our mission is to help ambitious businesses navigate the complexity of payments, so they can move faster, go further, and make the most of every opportunity,” said Abbondandolo. “In MENA, performance is personal. It’s local. It’s built on trust. And when payments perform, businesses thrive”.
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