FAM arena grounds to be vacated within 14 days

FAM has put out a notice stating all goods and vehicles located at an FAM plot are to be vacated within 14 days. The plot was given to FAM in order to construct a football arena at the northwestern section of Maafannu Stadium.

As per the announcement that was released on the Gazette, two large football stadiums were to be built at the plot east of the sports arena and the office building on the No. 387 plot at Maafannu Stadium.

And so, FAM has informed that all private and company property, goods, vehicles, etc are to be removed from the premises within 14 days.

FAM's announcement includes an illustration of the area where goods and vehicles need to be vacated from. The area in green is the place that needs to be vacated. 

The government leased the plot to FAM for 50 years for the construction of a sports arena at FIFA's expense.

Nevertheless, the plot is not being used as intended. Along with the office building, it includes warehouses being used by private businesses.

Various parts of the building were rented out to private businesses in order to build warehouses, which was done during former FAM President Bassam Adeel Jaleel's term. This decision was made by FAM even though their ExCo's had not signed off on it. FAM also said that there were no discussions held with nor permissions granted by the Sports Ministry and FIFA.

On Monday, FAM ExCo's decided to stop observing the agreements that were made to rent parts of the building to various parties.

However, a notice has not been released as of yet for the warehouses to be cleared out.

FAM made an announcement in August 2025, stating that all construction work is to stop at the Maafannu Stadium plot and the plot given to them in Hulhumale' in order to build a football school. The announcement also included a request, asking the parties that were renting and subleasing the two plots to send a copy of their agreements to FAM.

Regarding their announcement in August, FAM's announcement that was made yesterday reads that they had received lease agreements from various parties that were given for varied purposes on the sports arena plot. This does not include the plot that had the building that was constructed.