Pakistani Worker Dies in Tragic Accident at 2034 World Cup Stadium Site in Saudi Arabia
It is unclear how long Arshad had been working on the construction of the Aramco Stadium in Al-Khobar
Pakistani migrant worker is reported to have died in a tragic construction accident at the 2034 World Cup Stadium site in Saudi Arabia
According to the Guardian report, Muhammad Arshad tragically died on March 12, 2025, while working on the construction of the Aramco Stadium in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia.
This stadium is one of 11 venues being built for the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
As reported, Arshad, who was in his mid-30s, fell from an upper level during formwork operations when the platform tilted. Although equipped with personal fall-arrest systems, he was not tethered to an anchor point at the time of the accident. Emergency services were called, but he succumbed to his injuries in the hospital.
According to The Guardian, Arshad’s body was repatriated to Pakistan earlier this week and laid to rest near his hometown in the country’s northwest.
“A team of three workers was engaged in formwork operations [creating moulds for concrete] at height when the platform they were working on tilted. While all three were equipped with personal fall-arrest systems, one worker was not connected to an anchor point at the time of the incident and fell, sustaining severe injuries,” the company said in a statement. Emergency services were immediately called, but “the worker sadly succumbed to his injuries in hospital”.
The Besix statement said: “Out of respect for the victim’s family, workers were asked not to share images of the consequences of the tragic accident on social media.
“The authorities are conducting a full inquiry, and we are fully cooperating to determine the exact circumstances of this tragedy,” the company said.
His death marks the first-known fatality of a migrant worker linked to World Cup construction in Saudi Arabia. Human rights groups have long warned about safety risks and exploitation faced by migrant workers in Saudi Arabia, including poor living conditions, unpaid wages, and dangerous working environments.
This incident has reignited concerns over worker welfare as Saudi Arabia ramps up preparations for hosting the tournament
