Egypt Stadium is one of the most modern and largest facilities in the Middle East. Its construction was part of the development of the New Administrative Capital, an urban planning project for Egypt that has yet to be built.

Building with future in mind

Construction of Egypt Stadium began in 2019, as part of a major investment in the country's sports infrastructure. The renowned Italian firm SHESA Architectural Design was responsible for the architectural design, while Egyptian construction giant Orascom Construction PLC became the main contractor . The stadium was finally completed in early 2024. The first official sporting event took place on March 22, 2024 - a friendly match between the Egyptian and New Zealand national teams, ending in a 1-0 victory for the hosts.

The construction of the stadium cost 900 million Egyptian pounds, which, when converted, amounted to less than $20 million in early 2024. This is an exceptionally low sum, given the scale of the project and the steep fall in the value of the Egyptian currency. The entire sports complex, of which the stadium is the centrepiece, cost a total of 2.28 billion Egyptian pounds. How does this look against other new facilities? Nothing could be more simple. Just check out the 23 arenas opening in 2024 and pick your favourite five, by the way.

Sports complex surrounded by desert

Egypt Stadium is part of the expanded Egypt International Olympic City sports centre, comprising a number of modern facilities for various sports. The complex includes, among others, two large sports halls, an Olympic swimming pool, a hippodrome, a tennis centre, squash facilities, training fields and administrative, cultural and hotel facilities. All this makes the New Administrative Capital one of the most advanced sports centres in the region.

The New Administrative Capital of Egypt is a mega urban development project launched in 2015 to build a modern city east of Cairo from scratch. The investment aims to reduce overcrowding in the capital and create a new administrative and business centre for the country. The city is expected to accommodate millions of residents and its infrastructure includes modern housing estates, office buildings, government institutions, business centres, as well as numerous cultural and sports facilities.

The completion of Egypt's future national stadium in 2024 has made the venue one of the nominees for Stadium of the Year. You can find out about all the stadiums that were awarded in our YouTube video.

What does Egypt Stadium look like?

The stadium is designed on an elliptical plan, with a hybrid turf and athletics track. The grandstands consist of three levels and can accommodate 93,940 spectators, making Egypt Stadium the largest stadium in the Middle East and the second largest in Africa, after FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.

A distinctive element of the stadium is its roof structure - 32 tall masts support a lightweight membrane canopy that covers the entire auditorium. The stadium's façade catches the eye with its unique combination of blue and turquoise, and its shape symbolises the headdress of Nefertiti, one of ancient Egypt's most famous queens.

Egypt Stadium is to serve as Egypt's new national stadium, replacing Cairo International Stadium in this role. Its creation is part of the country's long-term strategy to host prestigious world-class sporting events. The Egyptian authorities hope that the new infrastructure will make it possible to host the Olympic Games or the World Cup in the future, which will strengthen the country's position as a key player on the world's sporting map.

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