The new home of Al Ain Football Club features a sweeping steel cantilever roof clad with polycarbonate and tension membranes the geometry of which was developed to respond to the shading requirements for the supporters. The reinforced concrete stands seat 25,000 and are arranged over three tiers. The perimeter façade draws inspiration in form from the bole of the palm tree and features panels supported on a steel diagrid.
The judges recognised the significant contribution of the structural engineers working with the team to rationalise the roof design and create a clear structural form: increasing efficiency and fabrication simplicity through repetition of details and elements with the utilisation of parametric modelling tools.