Populous, a global architectural and design practice specializing in sports facilities, has announced it designed the new Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, inaugurated on Friday, September 5. The 68,700-seat venue was delivered in just 24 months, from concept to completion, thanks to close coordination among Populous teams across multiple offices and adaptation to Moroccan construction methods under the leadership of the General Company for Moroccan Works. François Clément, a senior executive at Populous, said: «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. Leveraging our parametric design expertise across multiple Populous teams enabled us to create our most ambitious stadium façade to date for this incredible stadium». According to the firm, the stadium's parametric façade draws inspiration from interwoven palm fronds along Rabat's boulevards and from Morocco's rich artisanal heritage, notably Fassi embroidery and traditional ornament. Rising from the eucalyptus forest that forms the city's southern greenbelt, the shimmering golden skin opens toward the Atlantic Ocean, reflecting what Populous calls the spirit of Moroccan innovation and technological prowess. The façade spans 100,000 m² and comprises 19,200 champagne-colored aluminum triangles, each with unique dimensions. At sunset, the stadium transforms into a light spectacle, with 70 km of LED strips wrapped around the structure. On the southern side, a wide concourse leads to a steep two-tier stand holding 23,000 spectators, one of the largest single fan sections in Africa and Europe. The upper tier cantilevers eight meters over the lower one, creating the impression of a tier suspended over the pitch. This double stand acts as a «megaphone» for supporter energy, projecting it toward the field, the players, and the rest of the bowl. The western stand houses VVIP/VIP areas, skyboxes, and lounges centered on the royal box. The eastern stand offers a diverse mix of lounges and skyboxes across three levels. Second-tier skyboxes form a U-shaped ring around the stadium, providing ideal sightlines to both the pitch and the animated southern stand.
