[citation needed] Finally, after a record period of 27 years of construction, the stadium became ready in early 2007.

Officially, the stadium was opened on 3 April 2007 with an inaugural friendly match between Al-Ittihad SC and Fenerbahçe of Turkey which ended in a 2–2 draw.

The first goal scored in the stadium came at the 8th minute of the inaugural match, through Abdul Fattah Al Agha.

The Syrian president Bashar Al Assad and Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the opening ceremony and the match.

Its facade and many of its indoor facilities were completely destroyed, and the pitch and tribunes took significant damage, especially from mortar fire.