First Documented Death of a Migrant Worker on a 2034 World Cup Project in Saudi Arabia—Sanad Calls for Transparency and Accountability
The British newspaper The Guardian has reported the death of Pakistani worker Mohammad Arshad while working on the Aramco Stadium project in Al Khobar, one of the venues being constructed in preparation for the 2034 FIFA World Cup in Saudi Arabia. This marks the first confirmed worker fatality linked to World Cup infrastructure in the Kingdom.
According to the report, Arshad fell from an elevated platform while pouring concrete when the surface beneath him gave way. Although he was wearing safety equipment, he was not connected to a secure anchor point at the time of the fall, leading to fatal injuries. He was transported to the hospital, where he later died. The Belgian company Besix, overseeing the project, confirmed these details.
What further deepens the tragedy are eyewitness accounts stating that workers were directly instructed to delete any photos or videos of the incident and not to speak to anyone about what happened. Sanad Human Rights Organization strongly condemns this as a blatant cover-up and an affront to both the victim and public accountability, reflecting a broader culture of impunity in Saudi Arabia’s labor system.
This case fits a disturbing pattern of widespread abuse faced by migrant workers in Saudi Arabia, particularly in large-scale infrastructure projects. Numerous human rights reports have documented extreme working conditions, oppressive heat, low wages, substandard housing, and crippling recruitment debts—mostly affecting workers from South Asia.
Previous investigations have revealed the deaths of thousands of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia in recent years, particularly on Vision 2030 projects. These deaths often lack proper documentation or explanation. Organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have repeatedly warned of a Qatar-style disaster unless strict labor protections are enforced.
Sanad expresses deep sorrow over the death of Mohammad Arshad and underscores that this tragic event highlights a fundamental failure in the labor protection system and a lack of meaningful oversight on massive development projects in the Kingdom.
The organization affirms that it is actively investigating the incident, seeking more details about the conditions on site, the status of other workers, and the legal rights of Arshad’s family. Sanad calls for an urgent, independent, and transparent investigation, with the findings made public, and for full and fair compensation to the victim’s family.
Finally, Sanad urges the establishment of an international independent monitoring mechanism for labor conditions on 2034 World Cup projects to ensure Saudi Arabia complies with global labor standards and protects the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of migrant workers.
