"Wimbledon in the Desert" is Coming! Saudi National Tennis Center Officially Announced, Set to Become the Largest Tennis Paradise in the Middle East

Saudi Arabia's state-owned investment and development company Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC) recently announced that it will build a massive National Tennis Center in Qiddiya City, the "First City Built for Play" located in southwest of the capital Riyadh — a venue that will become the largest tennis paradise in the Middle East.

*All images of the National Tennis Center in this text are design renderings.

Designed by renowned sports architecture firm Populous, whose projects include the iconic retractable roof system at Wimbledon's Centre Court in the UK, Zhuhai International Tennis Center and Wuxi International Tennis Center in China, among others. The color scheme of the entire tennis center also draws inspiration from the All England Club (AELTC), home of Wimbledon.

The center is designed to feature 30 courts—28 hard courts and 2 clay courts—all constructed to ATP, WTA, and ITF standards. The complex includes a Center Court with a capacity of approximately 15,000 spectators; a Court 3 (also serving as a multi-purpose arena) capable of seating 8,000; a Court 1 with a capacity of 5,000; and a Court 2 with a capacity of 2,000. In total, the tennis center will provide seating for around 33,000 spectators.

Both the Center Court and Court 3 will be equipped with retractable roofs to ensure that matches and events can proceed regardless of the weather. Beyond tennis tournaments, the venues are also slated to host concerts, cultural events, and other sporting competitions.

At the same time, National Tennis Center will serve as a hub for nurturing Saudi Arabian tennis talent, featuring a high-level training center with state-of-the-art gyms, spa and physiotherapy suites, athlete recovery and wellness spaces, player lounges, dedicated changing rooms, and a comprehensive media center including press conference and interview rooms.

QIC stated: "The National Tennis Center will play a key role in the broader initiative led by the Ministry of Sports to further elevate the level of sports in the Kingdom and encourage greater participation. It will support tennis at all levels, from grassroots programs introducing children to the sport for the first time to supporting elite talent in Saudi Arabia."

ATP CEO Eno Polo said: "The National Tennis Center in Qiddiya is a significant addition to the global tennis landscape."

In terms of landscape design, the tennis center will blend with the natural terrain of the Tuwaiq Mountain range surrounding Qiddiya City, featuring cascading green facades and landscape-oriented architecture that connects with the surrounding desert environment.

The tennis center's location, the "man-made entertainment city" Qiddiya, is being built by QIC with an investment of £260 billion, touted as "the world's first city built for play", covering an area of over 360 square kilometers, larger than three Paris cities. In addition to the tennis center, the city plans numerous facilities capable of hosting major events, such as:

Speed Park Track, expected to host the F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in 2028.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium, expected to be completed in 2029 and will host matches for the 2034 World Cup.

18-hole championship golf course, adjacent to the tennis center, set to open later this year.

Horse Racing Venue, completion date to be announced by officials.

Qiddiya City plans a total of over 20 communities/districts to meet entertainment, living, and sports needs. Currently, Six Flags theme park (pictured below), Aquarabia, the largest water park in the Middle East, and the newly built dedicated film production center PlayMaker Studios have been unveiled. The entire city is expected to be completed by 2031.

QIC was established in 2018 and is wholly owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF). It is a core component of Saudi Arabia's national strategic blueprint "Vision 2030," aimed at reducing the country's dependence on oil, diversifying the economy, and improving social, cultural, entertainment, and public services.

| Source: Official press release, Qiddiya City official website, Populous official website

| Image source: Official website; official press release