Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah – stadium description

How can Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah be briefly described?

Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah is the first football stadium of this size and modern standard in Morocco. Its regular tenant is one of the country’s top clubs, AS FAR, and in the future the stadium will host matches of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

The stadium serves as the main sports arena of the capital city, Rabat. Its stands can hold 68,700 spectators and offer a wide range of premium seating options. A distinctive feature is the southern stand, with a large upper tier dedicated to the most passionate fans.

The entire structure is covered by a monumental metal shell, which simultaneously forms the facade and roof over the stands, giving the building its characteristic, streamlined shape. The facade is adorned with panels inspired by palm leaves and can be illuminated in various colors.

The stadium was built between 2023 and 2025, replacing the old venue of the same name. Due to the removal of the athletics track, a second stadium with a 21,000-seat capacity for track and field events was also built nearby.

What was the old Stade Moulay Abdellah like?

The former Stade Moulay Abdellah was inaugurated in 1983. It featured an athletics track surrounded by a single-tier ring of stands that could accommodate over 50,000 spectators.

It was one of Morocco’s most important stadiums and frequently hosted major international events, including matches of the Africa Cup of Nations in 1988, the FIFA Club World Cup in 2014 and 2022 (2023), as well as the 2019 African Games.

Its regular tenant was the decorated AS FAR club, and the Moroccan national team often played there as well.

The annual athletics meeting held at the stadium, the Meeting International Mohammed VI d'Athlétisme, has been part of the prestigious Diamond League circuit since 2016 – the first in Africa to achieve this status.

When was the new Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah built?

Although the old stadium was still suitable for hosting high-profile sporting events, authorities decided to replace it with a larger, more modern, football-focused arena. The new stadium was designed by the local Orange Atelier in collaboration with the internationally renowned firm Populous.

The old stadium was closed at the end of July 2023, after which demolition began, followed by construction of the new facility. Despite the large scale of the project, construction proceeded very efficiently, and the stadium was ready by September 2025.

The design and construction progress of Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah can be viewed on dedicated pages

What connection did the construction of the new Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah have with hosting major football events in Morocco?

When construction of the stadium began, Morocco was bidding to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and, most importantly, to become a co-host of the 2030 FIFA World Cup together with Spain and Portugal. The new stadium in Rabat was an important part of Morocco’s bid for these events.

Both bids were successful: on 27 September 2023 Morocco was announced as the host of the Africa Cup of Nations, and on 4 October 2023 the 2030 World Cup was awarded to the joint bid of Morocco, Spain, and Portugal (together with Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay, which will host one match each at the start of the tournament).

How was the removal of the track from the old Stade Moulay Abdellah compensated?

The old Stade Moulay Abdellah hosted significant athletics competitions, including a prestigious meeting that is part of the Diamond League. Since it was important not to discontinue these events, it was decided that a smaller athletics stadium would be built next to the new football stadium.

This led to the creation of Stade Olympique de Rabat, inaugurated on 25 May 2025, a few months before the football stadium opened. The venue has a capacity of 21,000 spectators, and its main stand features a crescent-shaped roof.

When was the new Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah inaugurated?

The new stadium was inaugurated on 5 September 2025 with a World Cup qualifying match in which Morocco defeated Niger 5–0. This result, combined with a favorable outcome in another group match, secured Morocco’s qualification for the 2026 World Cup – becoming the first African team to qualify.

What are the main features of Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah?

The stadium has a typical football-specific layout, with stands designed for a rectangular playing field. The venue has multiple tiers and a capacity of 68,700 spectators, making it one of the largest stadiums in the country.

The stand behind the southern goal has only two levels, with a large upper tier dedicated to AS FAR’s most passionate supporters. The stadium also offers numerous premium seats and suites. Two large screens are installed in the corners.

The stadium is crowned by an extensive metal shell, which simultaneously serves as a facade and roof over the stands, giving the building a compact, streamlined form. The facade is enhanced with decorative panels inspired by palm leaves and can be illuminated in a variety of colors.

Where is Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah located?

The stadium was built on the site of the former Stade Moulay Abdellah, on the south-western outskirts of Rabat, next to the railway line and the main roads leading to Casablanca.

It is the central element of the Complexe sportif Moulay Abdellah, which also includes the new athletics stadium (Stade Olympique de Rabat), a 10,000-seat indoor arena (Salle Moulay Abdellah), and an indoor swimming pool.

The complex is well connected: the main bus station in Rabat (gare routière de Rabat) is nearby, and construction of a high-speed rail station called Hay Riad began in early 2024.

Who is the patron of Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah?

Like its predecessor, the new stadium was named after Prince Moulay Abdallah – son of King Mohammed V and brother of King Hassan II.

Who uses Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah?

The stadium’s regular tenant is the football club AS FAR, one of Morocco’s most decorated teams. In addition, the national team is expected to play there.

The venue is suitable for football games as well as high-profile cultural events. It is planned to host matches of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 FIFA World Cup.