First Migrant Worker Death Confirmed at Saudi World Cup Stadium Project

Muhammad Arshad, a Pakistani father of three, fell to his death during construction of the Aramco Stadium, raising concerns over labor conditions for the 2034 World Cup.

• Muhammad Arshad, a Pakistani migrant worker, died on March 12, 2025, after falling from an upper level at the Aramco Stadium construction site in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia.
• This is the first confirmed worker fatality linked to the 2034 World Cup infrastructure projects, which involve extensive construction efforts across Saudi Arabia.
• Arshad was not connected to an anchor point during a platform tilt incident, despite being equipped with a personal fall-arrest system, according to Besix Group, a contractor on the project.
• Arshad’s family in Pakistan, including his three young sons, has been assured of receiving his outstanding salary and benefits, though they have not yet been contacted directly by his employer.
• The incident has reignited concerns over the safety and welfare of thousands of migrant workers, primarily from South Asia, employed under conditions previously criticized as exploitative.

3 Articles

The Guardian The Telegraph The Times