Al-Ahly Football Club Builds Cairo Stadium

Al-Ahly Football Club broke ground in February of 2025 on a world-class stadium in the Sheikh Zayed City district of Cairo. The 42,000-seat venue will serve as Al-Ahly’s permanent home and carries an estimated cost of up to EGP 9 billion ($180 million). Designed by Gensler, in collaboration with Buro Happold and El Qalaa El Hamraa, the state-of-the-art facility will be a holistic hub for health, education, and athletic excellence, as well as a national landmark and destination for sports tourism. 

The track-free stadium offers seating in an asymmetrical bowl with double-tiered stands on three sides to enhance the spectator experience by bringing fans closer to the players. An expansive entrance called the Owners’ Plaza can accommodate up to 30,000 visitors and will feature an official club store, multiple cafés, and the Al-Ahly Museum. The Field VIP area will provide premium seating and dining options, as well as access to the player’s tunnel. A partially sunken pitch design will leverage cooler earth temperatures to reduce ambient heat, and will address height restrictions imposed by flight paths for the nearby Sphinx Airport. The structure’s exterior will integrate a digital façade and an illuminated roof to display customizable projections. Multifunctional spaces will expand the stadium’s capabilities as a year-round venue for concerts and national events.

The Al-Ahly Stadium will anchor a transformative sports city masterplan, which will include a university, a hospital, and a mosque, as well as training facilities and a hotel. Delivered in phases, the visionary development aims to boost economic and community growth and position Egypt as a regional leader in the sports industry. Beltone Leasing & Factoring served as the exclusive financial advisor for the project. 

Completion of the Al-Ahly Stadium is anticipated in December of 2028.