Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah is the largest football-specific stadium in Rabat and one of the most modern sports venues in Morocco. Built as part of the country’s ambitious infrastructure programme, it serves as the home ground of AS FAR Rabat. Today it stands as one of the symbols of Morocco’s sporting development.

The old stadium and its historical significance

The previous stadium was opened in 1983. It featured an athletics track surrounded by a single ring of stands that could hold more than 50,000 spectators. It was one of Morocco’s most important stadiums and regularly hosted major international sporting events, including the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations, the FIFA Club World Cup in 2014 and 2022/2023, and the 2019 African Games.

The venue was regularly used by the AS FAR club, and the Moroccan national team also played there. A particularly important event was the annual athletics meeting Meeting International Mohammed VI d'Athlétisme, which since 2016 had been part of the prestigious Diamond League circuit — the first such event in Africa.

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Construction of the new stadium in Rabat

Although the old facility could still host major sporting events, authorities decided to replace it with a larger and more modern football-focused arena. The design of the new stadium was prepared by the local Orange Atelier studio in cooperation with the international firm Populous. The old stadium was closed at the end of July 2023, after which demolition and construction of the new structure began. Despite the large scale of the project, the works progressed very efficiently and the stadium was ready for use in September 2025.

The construction of the new stadium was closely connected with Morocco’s candidacy to host the world’s most important football events. After winning the bid to organize the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, the stadium in Rabat became one of the key elements of the country’s sports infrastructure strategy. The new venue was officially opened on 5 September 2025 with a World Cup qualifying match in which Morocco defeated Niger 5–0, becoming the first African team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. If you appreciate the development of modern football stadiums in Africa, vote for Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah in the Stadium of the Year 2025 public poll and help highlight one of the region’s most important infrastructure projects.

Main features of Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah

The stadium has a typical football layout with stands surrounding the rectangular pitch. The venue has several levels and can accommodate 68,700 spectators, making it one of the largest stadiums in the country. The stand behind the southern goal has two levels, with the upper sector dedicated to AS FAR’s most passionate supporters. The stadium is equipped with two large video screens, numerous premium seating areas, and hospitality suites.

The facility is covered by an extensive metal shell that serves both as facade and roof, giving the stadium a compact and modern form. The exterior is decorated with panels inspired by palm leaves and can be illuminated in many colors.

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Location and purpose of Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah

The stadium is located on the southwestern outskirts of Rabat, near the railway line and the main roads leading to Casablanca. It is the central element of the Moulay Abdellah sports complex, which also includes an athletics stadium, a 10,000-seat event hall, and an indoor swimming pool.

The complex is well connected to the city — the main bus station is nearby, and a high-speed rail station is being built in the Hay Riad district. The stadium is the home ground of AS FAR and can also be used to host international matches and cultural events, including fixtures of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 FIFA World Cup.