MEED reported that Abu Dhabi is planning to build an Olympic stadium at Mina Zayed on Abu Dhabi Island.

The developer, government-controlled Mubadala Development Company, declined to comment on the project. A spokesman for Abu Dhabi Sports Council said that it is not involved in the scheme.

Stadiums built for recent Olympic Games and for the 2012 London Olympics are capable of seating more than 70,000 people with a grass pitch and a 400 meters long running track. It is not yet clear what size stadium Mubadala has commissioned.

One source said that Mubadala is developing the stadium through John Buck International, a JV with the US' The John Buck Company. Mubadala and John Buck are doing an Olympic stadium, it is a big project.

Another source said that "Yes, there is a stadium planned. It will be next to the new media city in the Mina Zayed area."

Mubadala and John Buck are also working on a 65,000 capacity football stadium in the Khalifa City area close to Abu Dhabi International airport and the planned Capital City District. Work has already started on the foundations for the football stadium. Contractors expect Mubadala to issue a tender for the main construction works by the end of this year. When it is finished, the Olympic stadium will be a landmark in the Mina Zayed area, which will be redeveloped once Abu Dhabi's major commercial port relocates to Khalifa Port & Industrial Zone in Taweelah.

The new stadium will benefit from the proximity of Abu Dhabi's new media zone, which will be built alongside the stadium.

Abu Dhabi is developing the media cluster which is known as TwoFour54, to attract leading international broadcasters and media companies. TwoFour54 will include office buildings, production and broadcast studios, a hotel, serviced apartments, residential units, retail space and parking.

(Sourced from MEED)