Al Maktoum Stadium
 | |
Interactive map of Al-Maktoum Stadium | |
| Location | Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 15,058 |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Groundbreaking | 2018 |
| Built | 1980 |
| Opened | 1981 |
| Renovated | 2019 |
| Architect | Omar Bin Eid |
General contractor | Bin Ladin Contracting |
| Tenants | |
| Al Nasr UAE national football team United FC (Dubai) (2026-present) | |
Al-Maktoum Stadium (Arabic: ملعب آل مكتوم) is a multi-purpose stadium in Oud Metha, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of both Al Nasr SC and United FC[1]. The stadium holds roughly 15,000 people.
It was upgraded for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. This was in order to meet the regulations set by the Asian Football Confederation to host matches on a continental scale, and so that Dubai would be able to host more matches and events in the venue.
History
The rapid growth of UAE football in the early 1970's prompted the construction of a proper home stadium for Al Nasr SC. Thus, The construction of Al-Maktoum Stadium began in 1974 at a site in Oud Metha, and the stadium was inaugurated in 1978. The inaugural match of the stadium took place on May 26th of the same year against English club Liverpool F.C, who would go on to beat Al Nasr 5-0.[2]
With a capacity of 12,000 spectators, the original stadium featured low stands and an athletics track encompassing the pitch, which was a common layout in UAE stadiums built during this era.[3]
2019 AFC Asian Cup
Al Maktoum Stadium hosted six games of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, including a Round of 16 and a quarter-final match.
| Date | Time | Team No. 1 | Res. | Team No. 2 | Round | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 January 2019 | 17:30 |  South Korea | 1–0 |  Philippines | Group C | 3,185 |
| 10 January 2019 | 15:00 |  Bahrain | 0–1 |  Thailand | Group A | 2,720 |
| 12 January 2019 | 20:00 |  Lebanon | 0–2 |  Saudi Arabia | Group E | 13,792 |
| 16 January 2019 | 20:00 |  Iran | 0–0 |  Iraq | Group D | 15,038 |
| 20 January 2019 | 15:00 |  Jordan | 1–1 (aet) (2–4 PSO) |  Vietnam | Round of 16 | 14,205 |
| 24 January 2019 | 17:00 | Vietnam | 0–1 |  Japan | Quarter-finals | 8,954 |
Layout and construction
The Al Maktoum Stadium's renovation was completed in 2019 after construction broke ground in 2018. The original stadium was built in the 1970s.
Dubai Super Cup
Al Maktoum Stadium hosted the final of the Dubai Super Cup in December 2022, where Arsenal F.C. won against AC Milan with a score of 2–1.[4]
See also
References
- ↑ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
- ↑ Meenaghan, Gary. "A trip down memory lane: When 1978 European champions Liverpool visited a Dubai 'most people cannot imagine'". The National. Retrieved 2026-08-25.
- ↑ "Al-Maktoum Stadium – StadiumDB.com". stadiumdb.com. Retrieved 2026-08-25.
- ↑ "Arsenal crowned Dubai Super Cup winners after defeating AC Milan at Al Maktoum Stadium". The Economic Times. 14 December 2022.
External links
25°14′24″N 55°18′47″E / 25.24000°N 55.31306°E