Engineer Khaled Abbas, Chairman and Managing Director of the Administrative Capital for Urban Development (ACUD), said the Egyptian Fan Zone was created to give football fans an exceptional atmosphere to enjoy the FIFA World Cup, while acknowledging that a few instances of unruly behavior occurred during the celebrations.
Speaking to Essad Younis on DMC’s Sahebat El Saada, Abbas revealed that one of the biggest challenges at the outset of the project was estimating the number of fans expected to attend. Although the Fan Zone was a first-of-its-kind experience in Egypt, the team was confident it would be a success.
He explained that while the overall venue can accommodate between 60,000 and 70,000 people, the operational capacity was set at around 25,000 to 30,000 visitors at a time to ensure a comfortable experience, high-quality services, and smooth crowd management, with the flexibility to accommodate more visitors during peak periods.
Abbas added that the Fan Zone was designed to offer much more than match screenings, featuring dedicated areas for photo opportunities, games, giveaways, food and beverage outlets, and entertainment activities.
He noted that the Egyptian Fan Zone welcomes visitors daily from 6:00 p.m. until 2:00 a.m. throughout the FIFA World Cup, which runs until July 19, giving visitors the opportunity to spend three to four hours enjoying football alongside a full range of entertainment and services.
According to Abbas, the Egyptian Fan Zone allows visitors to move freely between the giant screens, restaurants, gaming areas, and interactive attractions, creating what he described as “a pleasant outing” that appeals not only to football fans but also to families and visitors looking to enjoy the festive atmosphere.
Abbas explained that one of the biggest operational challenges was that the Fan Zone remained open every day, not only during Egypt’s matches. As a result, restoring the venue to its original condition after each event required significant time and effort from the operations and cleaning teams.
He added that the goal was to offer a viewing experience unlike any other. “In many countries, a fan zone is simply an open space with a giant screen and a few food stalls. We wanted to create a more comfortable and enjoyable experience, so we provided comfortable bean bag seating, allowing fans to watch the matches in a unique atmosphere,” he said.
Abbas stressed that, ultimately, preserving the Fan Zone comes down to public behavior and awareness. He encouraged everyone to help protect public spaces so they can continue to be enjoyed by all visitors.
He also revealed that cleaning crews began work immediately after each event, restoring the venue and preparing it to welcome fans for the following FIFA World Cup knockout matches.
Abbas credited the success of the Fan Zone to the collaboration of an integrated team. He praised United Media Services for designing and preparing the venue, the Ministry of Transport, led by Kamel El-Wazir, for extending the monorail’s operating hours until the early morning during match days and offering free rides to fans to facilitate access, and the Ministry of Interior for ensuring smooth entry, exit, and traffic flow throughout the event.
Looking ahead, Abbas said ACUD is currently discussing with United Media Services the possibility of preserving the Fan Zone as a permanent venue for sporting celebrations and other major events, with the vision of transforming it into a weekend entertainment destination for families and visitors thanks to its accessibility and world-class facilities.
“We learn something new every day, and with each match we strive to improve the experience and deliver an even better event for our fans,” Abbas concluded.
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