Arup and EC Harris make Qatar World Cup team

UK consultants Arup and EC Harris have secured lucrative roles in the delivery of the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Building can reveal.

The two companies are part of the CH2M Hill-led consortium that won the contest to lead the construction of the World Cup venues and infrastructure, thought to be worth at least £5bn.

The Qatari authorities have so far kept the identities of CH2M Hill’s consortium partners under wraps, but Building understands that Arup and EC Harris are both on the team. Arup and EC Harris declined to comment.

Arup was involved in the design and construction of a 500-seat climate-adjusted test stadium in Qatar in the run-up to the country’s bid for the World Cup.

The “zero carbon” test venue created a cool micro-climate designed to shield players and spectators from the harsh Qatari desert heat, which can hit temperatures of up to the mid-40s.

Building does not know what roles Arup and EC Harris will fulfill as part of the consortium, which has responsibility for building venues and training sites, as well as infrastructure works such as the New Doha International Airport and the proposed nationwide metro network.

Its role will continue for two years after the tournament to ensure implementation of the legacy commitments to Fifa for the games.

EC Harris has recently been gearing up in Qatar, after been appointed to project manage the latest phase of the £550m Hamad Medical City in the country, one of the world’s largest health projects.

A spokesperson for Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee said: “Due to contractual reasons, we are unable to disclose which consultants were part of the CH2M HILL consortium that was successful in being selected as the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee delivery partner.  We hope to reveal these details in due course.”