The Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco has now opened its doors again after two years and an AUD $75 million investment into the renovation, being officially launched by the Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan.
The renewed stadium, designed by global design firm, Populous and led by Moroccan firm Orange Atelier, will be used to co-host the FIFA World Cup 2030 alongside with Spain and Portugal by holding games during the tournament as well as the opening match, semi-final and final of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 in mid-December.
The Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium has a capacity of 68,700 with a unique parametrically-designed LED Façade, and the bowl is designed to capture the acoustics of patrons’ cheers while further amplifying crowd energy into a sonic wall, among other innovate additions to the venue.
Populous Senior Principal, François Clement called the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium is the new jewel of international football and one of the great stadiums, not just in Morocco, but across all Africa and beyond.
“It delivers a legacy impact of world-class amenities, accessibility improvements for local and international fans, enhanced fan experience and increased revenues,” he said via media statement.
“Leveraging our parametric design expertise across multiple Populous teams enabled us to create our most ambitious stadium façade to date for this incredible stadium.”
The construction of the stadium began in September 2023 once the old stadium closed down, with the 68,700-seat reconstruction project expected to be finished within 24 months.
Populous delivered the designs and construction within two years spread out across different offices to ensure coordination from the firm and stakeholders and allow the flexibility oof working with Moroccan construction alongside contractor Société Générale des Travaux du Maroc (SGTM).
The stadium was designed under the assistance of the National Agency of Public Facilities of Morocco, as well as in accordance with soccer governing body, FIFA specifications to be able to host the World Cup in 2030.
The Specifications of The Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium
The Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium’s bowl is built with a steep, two-tiered 23,000 capacity stands on the south concourse, which are one of the largest fan sections in both Europe and Africa. An upper tier built eight metres above the lower is designed to have the impression of hovering over the field, overlooking the goal.
These dual-tiered stands are used as the source of the acoustics which is aimed at the pitch and other stands.
The stadium has state-of-the-art media and broadcasting facilities as well as in the West Stand, VVIP, VIP, skyboxes, and lounges, centred on the Royal Box for stakeholders and influential people to watch the game.
The East Stand offers spectators a mix of lounges and skyboxes over three tiers, including skyboxes on Level 2 which forms a U-shaped ring around the pitch, offering optimised views both of the pitch.
The specially-designed façade of the stadium, which covers 100,000 m², is made of 19,200 champagne-coloured aluminium triangles with individual dimensions in a parametric design, is used to both create a lightshow for people entering the venue and an inspiration of the area’s palm trees that line the boulevards of Rabat.
The stadium also includes a wider complex filled with training centres, an Olympic swimming pool, an indoor multisport arena, and more worth a total of AUD 503 thousand, as well as the installation of solar energy and water recycling technologies to promote environmental and sustainable operations.
The renewed stadium will also now link to a new railway station which allows patrons to use public transport to and from the venue, as well as creates a new public space and connects the eastern Hay Riad and western Akkari.
The Moroccan national football team faced Niger in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier soon after the stadium opened, as well as the Atlas Lions scheduled their final training session the brand new pitch.
