Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat Heralds a New Era for Moroccan Football

Designed by Populous, the 68,700-capacity Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium features a unique parametrically-designed LED Façade. The design of the bowl places a premium on acoustics and atmosphere to amplify the passion of the Moroccan fans, with stands placed as close to the pitch as possible, amplifying crowd energy into a sonic wall.

Under the direction of the National Agency for Public Facilities of Morocco, the stadium was designed in accordance with FIFA specifications to host matches up to the semi-finals of the 2030 FIFA World Cup. It incorporates state-of-the-art media and broadcast facilities, a 360° wind-shielding roof, and expanded VVIP, VIP and hospitality areas.

The stadium will host Morocco’s national team as they play at the pinnacle of world football, while inspiring the youth of Morocco across the Kingdom. It has been delivered in just 24 months of combined design and construction, with design teams across multiple Populous offices ensuring continuous coordination with all stakeholders and adaptability working with Moroccan construction processes led by contractor SGTM.

The façade of the stadium uses parametric design that draws inspiration both from the interlaced palm leaves lining Rabat’s great boulevards, and from Morocco’s great artisanal tradition, the ‘Point de Fez’ embroidery and traditional ornamentation. Its golden, shimmering profile rises from the eucalyptus forest of the city’s green belt – the southern lungs of Rabat – representing Morocco’s spirit of innovation and technological strength as it opens toward the Atlantic. Covering 100,000 m², the façade has been created through parametric design is composed of 19,200 champagne-coloured aluminium triangles, each with their own unique dimensions At sunset, the stadium creates a spectacular light show as the façade glows with the help of 70 km of LED strips spiralling around the structure. The bowl is the beating heart of the Moulay Abdellah Stadium, designed to connect Moroccan supporters’ immense passion with the action on the pitch.

A vast open concourse to the south leads into a steep, two-tiered 23,000 capacity ‘Kop’ stand, one of the largest fan sections in Africa and Europe. The two superposed tiers, where the upper tier cantilevers eight metres above the lower tier, create a breathtaking impression of floating over the field, directly overlooking the goal.

This dual-tiered south Kop serves as a ‘loudspeaker’ for supporter passion, facing the pitch, the players, and the other stands. The West Stand hosts VVIP, VIP, skyboxes, and lounges, centred on the Royal Box, while the East Stand offers a versatile mix of lounges and skyboxes over three tiers.  Skyboxes on Level 2 form a U-shaped ring around the pitch, offering optimised views both of the pitch and of the vibrant South KOP stand. The overall design ensures an electric stadium atmosphere, enhancing the fan experience at every level.

The first foundations of the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium were laid in September 2023, leaving only 24 months for the design and construction of a 68,700-seat stadium. This speed was made possible thanks to the adaptability and responsiveness of Populous as part of its integration into the Moroccan construction process, led by the construction company Société Générale des Travaux du Maroc. The simultaneous coordination of design teams located across several Populous offices ensured the delivery of all the information required for the completion of the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium within its 24-month Design / Build period.

The forecourt of the Moulay Abdellah Stadium is a new public space for Rabat, linked by a new railway station encouraging public transport to the stadium, and infrastructure connecting it to Hay Riad (east) and Akkari (west).