The Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat has been named Stadium of the Year 2025 in an international competition organised by StadiumDB.
The Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat has been named Stadium of the Year 2025 in an international competition organised by StadiumDB.

The Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat has been named Stadium of the Year 2025 in an international competition organised by StadiumDB.

The award was decided by a public vote involving 7,451 sports architecture fans from around the world, who assessed 28 stadiums opened in 2025.

The Rabat venue received 14,481 points, ahead of the Grand Stade de Tanger in second place with 10,453 points and the Claro Arena in Chile, which finished third with 10,318 points.

The stadium hosted both the opening match and final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Built between 2023 and 2025, the stadium can hold nearly 69,500 spectators. It forms part of a wider sports complex that includes an indoor arena, an athletics stadium and an Olympic swimming pool.

Designed by the global architecture firm Populous in collaboration with Moroccan architects, the stadium features steep stands placed close to the pitch to intensify the atmosphere during matches.

Its exterior is covered with a parametric LED façade made up of 19,200 aluminium triangles inspired by palm leaves and traditional Moroccan “Point de Fez” embroidery. A 360-degree cantilevered roof shields spectators from wind and sun.

The venue also uses a hybrid grass pitch combining natural turf and synthetic fibres, supported by an LED light system that helps regulate grass growth. Around 30% of the stadium’s electricity is generated by photovoltaic panels.

Inside, the stadium includes 110 VIP and VVIP boxes and several hospitality areas able to host more than 5,000 guests.

Security and crowd management systems include about 800 surveillance cameras and 92 biometric entry gates, while sensors monitor crowd movement and structural vibrations during events. The stadium is also equipped with 5G and high-speed Wi-Fi.

The project was completed in about 24 months to meet the highest standards set by FIFA.

The stadium sits within an 80-hectare sports district connected to central Rabat and nearby Casablanca through a new railway station and extended tram lines.

Morocco had five stadiums nominated in the 2025 competition, including the Moulay El Hassan Stadium, Olympic Stadium of Rabat and Al Médina Stadium.

The investments form part of preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal.

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