The Qiddiya Investment Company announced on Monday plans for a 33,000-capacity National Tennis Centre in Qiddiya City to serve as a hub for international tennis. The facility under construction and designed by Populous to international standards will support all levels of the sport as the Saudi sports market expanded from 8.7 billion SAR in 2022 to 13.8 billion in 2023 per Vision 2030 data.
The centre will feature 30 courts including 28 hard courts and two clay courts integrated into the Tuwaiq Mountains landscape with layered green facades. It will combine world-class competition infrastructure with elite training and wellness facilities along with a vibrant public realm. Two multi-purpose arenas with retractable roofs will allow the venue to host concerts and major events beyond tennis the company said in its announcement. The total seating capacity across the complex will reach 33,000 with the flagship centre court offering 15,000 seats and a retractable roof.
The National Tennis Centre is located next to Nick Faldo’s signature designed 18-hole championship golf course set to open later this year. This forms part of a new city that will include new homes offices and retail and is planned to be three times the size of Paris. Qiddiya City has gained momentum with the recent opening of Six Flags theme park Aquarabia as the largest water park in the Middle East and PlayMaker Studios the new purpose-built film production hub. The tennis centre adds to this development as a key element in the city’s ambition to become a global destination for entertainment sport and culture.
The facility will support tennis at all levels from grassroots initiatives that introduce the sport to children for the first time to aiding Saudi Arabia’s elite talent development the announcement stated. It will play a major role in the broader ambitions led by the Ministry of Sport to further elevate sports in the Kingdom and encourage increased participation. Vision 2030 program data places the percentage of adults engaging in sufficient weekly physical activity at 59.1 percent in 2025 a figure that surpassed targets. The number of registered female athletes saw a 52 percent rise between 2022 and 2023 according to the same reports.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal the minister of sport and president of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee said the launch of the complex reflected the support and attention the sports sector received from the leadership. “The complex has the necessary capabilities to host major tournaments and elite players having been built according to the highest international specifications and standards. This reflects the commitment to developing the tennis ecosystem in the Kingdom as with other sports by enhancing infrastructure and programs that support the scouting and development of Saudi talent. These efforts help guide players from the amateur stage to professionalism while contributing to the achievement of the sports objectives of Saudi Vision 2030” he stated.
Abdullah Aldawood the managing director at Qiddiya Investment Company said “At Qiddiya City we believe in the power of play the idea that play in all its forms has the ability to transform lives build communities and inspire generations. The National Tennis Centre demonstrates this philosophy. We are building a world-class home for tennis at every level where the world’s best players can compete the next generation of Saudi talent can reach their potential and families and communities across Saudi Arabia can experience this great sport.” He emphasized that the project would create opportunities for both elite competition and widespread community engagement.
Ross Hutchins the International Tennis Federation’s CEO said “The National Tennis Centre at Qiddiya City is precisely the kind of transformative investment that the ITF has long championed as essential to the sustainable growth of our sport around the world.” He added “We look forward to seeing Qiddiya City working alongside the Saudi Tennis Federation to grow the game in Saudi Arabia.” Eno Polo the CEO of the Association of Tennis Professionals said “The National Tennis Centre at Qiddiya City is a remarkable addition to the global tennis landscape.” He noted that as the largest tennis facility of its kind in the region it reflects a bold vision for the future of tennis.
The development occurs as Saudi Arabia has hosted an increasing number of high-profile tennis events in recent years including the WTA Finals in Riyadh and the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah. Reports indicate that the Kingdom has invested more than 6 billion dollars in the sports sector since 2021 according to analyses published by international outlets. The new centre will add to existing infrastructure by providing facilities that meet the highest standards for competition training and public use the Qiddiya Investment Company stated.
