Ahly's new home - Sports - Al-Ahram Weekly

Al-Ahram Weekly

18-02-2025

The final design of the new home stadium of Egyptian sports club Ahly was unveiled on Friday at a high-profile ceremony in Luxor's Hatshepsut Temple, attended by club dignitaries and partners. The event also served as a run-up to Ahly's participation in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup which will take place in the United States from 14 June to 13 July.
Construction, in the city of 6 October in Cairo, is set to begin immediately, with completion targeted within close to four years.
The event was attended by Egyptian football officials, players and celebrities from all over the world.
Egyptian powerhouse Ahly, chosen by the African Football Federation as the African Club of the 20th Century, have taken an enormous dive toward realising their long-awaited vision with the official launch of the 'Project of the Century', a sprawling sports city in Sheikh Zayed, west of Cairo, during the FIFA Club World Cup trophy ceremony.
Backed by a group of local and international partners, the landmark stadium aims to transform Egypt's sports infrastructure and cement Ahly's status as a continental powerhouse. It will deliver a 42,000-seat stadium designed without a running track to maximise fan proximity to the pitch, aligning with global standards, specialized facilities which include a sports hospital, museum chronicling the club's 120-year legacy, a sports university, a youth academy and a hotel.
The two-phased construction will first prioritise the stadium and hotel while phase two introduces the university, hospital and auxiliary training pitches.
Egyptian financial heavyweight Beltone Leasing & Factoring has committed LE4 billion ($80 million) to the project, with developer Al Qalaa Al Hamraa for Facilities Management securing additional funding to meet the total estimated cost of LE8 billion to LE9 billion. Beltone's role as exclusive financial advisor highlights the initiative's strategic importance to Egypt's economic and sporting ambitions.
The collaboration includes 15 global and regional firms, including Hilton International, UAE-based Palm Sport, and leading engineering consultancies, ensuring world-class execution.
Ahly President Mahmoud Al-Khatib hailed the project as a 'historic milestone', emphasising its role in diversifying the club's revenue streams and elevating Egypt's global sports profile.
'From 1907, all club members, officials and fans lovers, we all dreamt of this moment.'
Al-Khatib praised Mohamed Kamel, CEO of Al Qalaa Al Hamra, for his work on the stadium. Kamel had said: 'This isn't just a stadium – it's a holistic hub for health, education, and athletic excellence.'
'In our journey,' Al-Khatib said, 'we faced some things which were solved and also when we claimed this land at Sheikh Zayed, we faced obstacles that the highest structures we could build could be only six metres tall. We presented our plan to officials who were very cooperative when they saw our seriousness and insistence. After we drew up plans we received the go ahead allowing us 30 metres in height for the stadium and an additional 12 metres for other buildings in the club,' Al-Khatib, a former Ahly football star, said.
Al-Khatib then shared with the audience his personal battle with health issues. 'In 2023, I went through health problems which were not good. I went abroad [for treatment] and then after returning, I shared my condition with my fellow board members and I told them I needed a long break.'
He recalled that board member Amri Farouk had at the time slipped into a deep coma. 'So, we all forgot about having breaks and focused on our work.
'Three months ago, I started feeling unwell and rumours broke out about my health and the results of my medical tests. I wanted to forget all the news and the pressure. However, we were close to January, the time when we needed to focus on our players and those who wanted to join the club. We had already set a date for the unveiling. So, it was important for me to continue.
'And now that all is good with football and the launch of the stadium, I discussed with my colleagues about taking a break after this event. So, with your permission, I am taking a break for a while, then have another check-up and wait for the results.'
During his address, Kamel unveiled the stadium's once closely guarded design via a video showcasing its standout features, including stands emblazoned with the club's iconic name and logo, a suspended circular screen beneath the roof, premium changing rooms, and adjacent restaurants and cafés.
The sports city is poised to boost tourism, generate employment and inspire future athletes. By integrating cutting-edge medical, educational, and training facilities, the project aims to nurture homegrown talent and position Egypt as a regional sports leader.
With groundwork now underway, Ahly's legion of supporters eagerly anticipate a new era for the club and Egyptian sport.
So far, the club plays its matches in Cairo Stadium and Al Salam Stadium.
Training is held in Ahly's old downtown club overlooking the Nile.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 20 February, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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