Wadi Degla, Al Hilal, Al Merrikh, and the Sports City| Sudanow Magazine

Khartoum, ( Sudanow) — A delegation from Egypt's Wadi Degla Developments conducted a field visit to Al Hilal Stadium in Omdurman last week to assess the venue's condition and carry out an initial evaluation for its pitch and facility rehabilitation. The visit follows recent high-level discussions between Al Hilal’s Board of Directors and the Egyptian firm, culminating in an official three-day delegation visit to Sudan, according to the club’s media office.
During the tour, the delegation assessed structural damage to the buildings, stands, and pitch at Aljawhara Al zarquaa or The "Blue Jewel" stadium. A specialized turf expert accompanied the team to complete a comprehensive assessment, responding to the board’s request for an urgent proposal to ready the stadium for matches and training as quickly as possible, while broader upgrades continue in tandem.

Wadi Degla Developments, a subsidiary of Wadi Degla Holding, boasts extensive expertise in real estate construction, having delivered numerous luxury residential projects across Egypt. The company is currently overseeing the construction of a stadium in Tanzania as part of preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Al Hilal’s board sought this partnership to restore the Blue Jewel and its surroundings after recording widespread damage and vandalism inflicted on sports infrastructure during the presence of the militia in Khartoum.

Al Hilal has demonstrated a firm commitment to upgrading its stadium in compliance with FIFA and CAF requirements for advanced-stage international fixtures, following previous bans on hosting matches due to non-compliant standards. A closing meeting between club president Hisham Al-Sobat and the Egyptian delegation, which covered detailed prospects for redevelopment, underlined the club's determination to bring fans back to Omdurman after years of absence.

Capitalizing on the visit, the Ministry of Youth and Sports engaged the delegation to explore investment and technical partnerships to support broader national infrastructure recovery.

The Minister Prof. Ahmed Adam met with the delegation to discuss cooperation on completing the long-delayed "Sports City."

Accompanied by Eng. Ezzaddin El-Haj, Director of the Youth and Sports Support Fund, the delegation inspected the site and its flagship venue, the Olympic Stadium, assessing engineering gaps and outlining plans for a modern technical proposal.

Prof. Adam emphasized that finalizing the Sports City remains a top priority for the ministry to rebuild the country's athletic foundations. In turn, the Egyptian delegation expressed strong interest in delivering the required technical frameworks to evaluate full project participation.

The delegation has since returned to Egypt with initial blueprints for both venues. Matched by Al Merrikh’s parallel efforts to renovate its home ground, the "Red Castle," these combined initiatives mark a crucial step toward restoring normal life, civic pride, and sporting vibrancy to the capital.

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