Rising from the plains of northern Tanzania in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro, the Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium is the most significant sports infrastructure project in Arusha’s history. A brand new 30,000-seat arena built from scratch for AFCON 2027 — named after Tanzania’s president, inspired by Tanzanite gemstones and designed to host football at the highest level. This is the complete guide to everything confirmed about the stadium.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium |
| Location | Olomoti Ward (Olmoti area), Arusha, Tanzania |
| Capacity | 30,000 (all-seater) |
| Cost | $112 million USD (TZS 286 billion) |
| Contractor | China Railway Construction Engineering Group (CRCEG) |
| Design supervisor | Dar Al-Handasah |
| Site area | 14.57 hectares |
| Completion target | July 2026 |
| Stadium lifespan | 130 years — renovations scheduled every 10 years |
| AFCON 2027 role | Group stage matches |
| Multipurpose use | Football, rugby, athletics, cultural events, government ceremonies |
Construction Status — Where Things Stand
The Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium has gone through rapid construction since breaking ground in April 2024. Here is the confirmed progression by date:
| Date | Completion % | Key milestone |
|---|---|---|
| December 2024 | 16% | Foundations and early structural work confirmed on track |
| February 2026 | 75% | Steel-framed superstructure complete — bowl seating visible in aerial photos |
| March 2026 | 75–80% | Roof structure being erected — internal finishing commenced |
| April 2026 | 70–90% | Topping-out stage celebrated — V-shaped canopy roof fully complete |
| Target: July 2026 | 100% | Full handover — one year of shakedown testing before AFCON 2027 |
As of April 2026 the project is in its final construction phase. The structural skeleton is complete. The main canopy roof — described as a complex engineering feat — is finished. Work has shifted to seat installation, electrical and ICT systems, fire safety, internal finishing and access road upgrades. The facility is firmly on track for its July 2026 completion date, allowing for a full year of shakedown events and surface testing before the best footballers in Africa arrive on its doorstep.
The Parliamentary Committee on Education, Culture and Sports commended progress after a site visit — Committee Chairperson Husna Sekiboko confirmed the project was ahead of projected timelines. Deputy Minister Hamis Mwinjuma confirmed the stadium will have a seating capacity of 32,000 when complete — slightly higher than the originally announced 30,000.
The Design — Tanzanite and Kilimanjaro
The Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium is not just a sports venue — it is an architectural statement. Every element of the design is rooted in Tanzania’s identity.
The Tanzanite inspiration: The stadium’s distinctive V-shaped silhouette and exterior geometry are inspired by Tanzanite gemstones — a rare blue-violet mineral found exclusively in the Arusha region and nowhere else on earth. The V-shaped canopy roof — now complete — creates the stadium’s defining visual identity when seen from outside.
The Kilimanjaro inspiration: The structural silhouette also draws from the peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro — Africa’s highest mountain, visible from Arusha on clear mornings. The stadium’s colours are drawn from the Tanzanian national flag.
The roofing system: A large-span steel framework with a cantilever structure covers all spectator seats — ensuring every one of the 30,000 fans has an unobstructed view of the pitch and protection from the elements.
General architectural style: The chief designer described it as “quite light and simple and perfectly integrating the local environment and the culture of Tanzania.” The design avoids the heavy concrete brutalism of older African stadiums in favour of a modern, open aesthetic that suits Arusha’s highland landscape.
The Location — Getting There
The stadium is located in Olomoti Ward on the outskirts of Arusha — strategically positioned near key arterial roads linking Arusha to the rest of Tanzania.
| From | Distance | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arusha city centre | ~8–12km | 15–25 min by Bolt | New access roads under construction |
| Arusha Airport (ARK) | ~10km | 15–20 min | Domestic flights from DSM |
| Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) | ~50km | 45–60 min | Main international entry point |
| Haile Selassie Road (hotel district) | ~10–15km | 20–30 min by Bolt | Main tourist accommodation area |
A dedicated 21.2km network of new tarmac roads is under construction connecting the stadium to Arusha city, including a major bridge along Essuri Road — valued at TZS 82.9 billion with a May 2027 completion deadline. A 17km bypass linking Kilimanjaro International Airport directly to the stadium is also under accelerated construction.
Match day advice: Use Bolt or hotel-arranged transport. Do not rely on finding transport outside the stadium after the final whistle — book your return before kick-off. Allow 90 minutes before the match to reach the stadium comfortably.
What the Stadium Will Offer
This is not simply a football ground. The Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium is designed as a long-term civic and cultural hub for Arusha — a first for a city that previously had no international-standard sports venue.
- Football and rugby — primary purpose, built to CAF and FIFA standards
- Athletics — the stadium will accommodate international athletics events
- Cultural events — concerts, exhibitions and community gatherings
- Government ceremonies — one VIP section reserved for government officials, one for corporate guests
- Museum — a museum integrated into the facility
- Offices and event spaces — ensuring commercial activity beyond match days
- GrassMaster pitch — hybrid natural/synthetic surface widely used in top-tier European venues
Why This Stadium Was Built
Arusha had no international-standard football venue before this project. The city’s previous facilities were inadequate for hosting top-level CAF competition — a significant gap given Arusha’s profile as East Africa’s safari capital and one of Tanzania’s most internationally connected cities.
The stadium is named after President Samia Suluhu Hassan in recognition of her administration’s financial commitment to the project. As Deputy Minister Mwinjuma confirmed: “Without the President’s funding, no matter how skilled the contractor was, the work would not have progressed as it has.” Following the tradition of naming major Tanzanian national projects after leaders — Julius Nyerere International Airport being the most prominent example — the stadium honours President Hassan’s extensive support for Tanzania’s sports sector.
The economic case is equally significant. As a major addition to Arusha’s tourism landscape, the stadium is expected to attract international visitors for sports and cultural events year-round — not just during AFCON 2027. Arusha is the gateway to the Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Kilimanjaro. A world-class sports venue in this city creates a tourism product that does not currently exist anywhere else in East Africa.
The AFCON 2027 Context
Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium will host AFCON 2027 group stage matches — part of Tanzania’s four-venue hosting plan alongside Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam (60,000), Fumba City Stadium in Zanzibar (36,500) and Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar City (15,000).
Of Tanzania’s four venues, Arusha’s is the most extraordinary in terms of setting. The Serengeti is 3 hours away. Ngorongoro Crater is 2 hours. Mount Kilimanjaro is visible from the road into the stadium on clear mornings. No previous AFCON has offered fans this combination — elite football in a stadium inspired by Tanzanite gemstones, surrounded by East Africa’s greatest wildlife destinations, at the peak of the Great Migration season.
AFCON 2027 runs 19 June to 17 July 2027. That window corresponds precisely with peak Great Migration season in the Serengeti. Fans attending a group stage match at the Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium can extend their trip for a Serengeti safari the following morning. No previous AFCON has made this possible. See our Serengeti and AFCON 2027 guide for the full safari combination guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where exactly is the Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium?
Olomoti Ward, Arusha, Tanzania. Approximately 8 to 12km from Arusha city centre and 50km from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO).
What is the capacity of the Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium?
30,000 seats (all-seater) — with updated figures suggesting up to 32,000 upon completion. All spectator seats are covered by the canopy roof.
When will the Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium be completed?
Target completion: July 2026. As of April 2026 the stadium was 70 to 90% complete with the main canopy roof finished.
Who is building the Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium?
China Railway Construction Engineering Group (CRCEG) is the general contractor. Dar Al-Handasah is providing design review and construction supervision services.
How much did the Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium cost?
$112 million USD (TZS 286 billion) — funded by the Tanzanian government.
Who is the stadium named after?
President Samia Suluhu Hassan — Tanzania’s first female president and sixth president overall. The stadium honours her administration’s financial commitment to Tanzania’s sports infrastructure.
For the complete guide to attending AFCON 2027 matches in Arusha see our Arusha fan guide. For all seven AFCON 2027 stadiums see our complete stadiums guide. For tickets see our tickets guide. For the full fixture list see our fixtures page.
Construction data sourced from Construction Review Online (March 2026), Pulse Sports Kenya (April 2026), Mjengo Hub (February 2026), Daily News Tanzania, StadiumDB and Dar Al-Handasah official project page. Completion percentages as confirmed by official sources at respective dates. Stadium capacity figure of 32,000 confirmed by Tanzania’s Deputy Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, March 2025.