Saudi Arabia may have missed its chance to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games, but the Kingdom is already staging its next big sporting statement, this time with a racket in hand and a Wimbledon-inspired tennis court rising from the desert. Far from an ordinary sports complex, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s grand vision is coming alive with plans for a National Tennis Centre in Qiddiya City, as revealed by the Qiddiya Investment Company. Set to be the largest of its kind in the region, this one-of-a-kind destination will meet the international standards of the ATP, WTA, and ITF, promising to deliver the very best the sport has to offer.
As one of the Kingdom’s most ambitious, advanced, and futuristic tennis complexes, it will feature a 15,000-seat Centre Court designed to host major international tournaments and elite-level championship events. This spectacular main court, designed by renowned architectural firm Populous, the same masterminds behind Wimbledon’s iconic retractable roof, will boast a canopy design that immediately calls Wimbledon’s Centre Court to mind.
In total, the facility will feature 30 courts, including 28 hard courts and two clay courts, offering a massive combined seating capacity of 33,000 across the entire venue. Elite players will also have access to a High-Performance Training Centre with state-of-the-art gyms, recovery suites, and dedicated hydrotherapy and physiotherapy facilities.
Of course, in Saudi Arabia, this is not just about sport. It is about spectacle, scale, and creating a destination. Visitors and tourists can expect lively public spaces, immersive engagement zones, and premium hospitality suites. The National Tennis Centre will serve as a flagship anchor for Qiddiya City, the Kingdom’s new $40 billion sports and entertainment hub located just outside Riyadh. Saudi Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal said the new centre underlines the Kingdom’s long-term commitment to the sport: “The centre has the necessary capabilities to host major tournaments and elite players, having been built according to the highest international specifications and standards.”
Beyond tennis, Qiddiya is being shaped around water parks, theme parks, motorsport, and entertainment attractions on a scale few destinations can match. The futuristic location will soon boast a brand-new F1 track, the world’s largest water park, Qiddiya Water Theme Park, and the world’s largest Six Flags, complete with the fastest roller coaster on the planet. If all goes as planned, the national tennis centre could be operational as soon as 2027, and although there has been no official confirmation, it is expected to host a new ATP Masters 1000 arriving in 2028, shared The National News.
