In the mountains west of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s largest tennis complex is under construction, with tournament courts, training facilities, and public spaces built into the landscape of Qiddiya City.
Qiddiya Investment Company, the developer behind the city-scale entertainment and sports destination, has unveiled the National Tennis Centre, a 30-court complex designed by Populous.
Built to ATP, WTA, and ITF standards, the complex is designed to accommodate international tournaments while supporting player development and wider community use. The development will include more than 30 courts and capacity for over 30,000 spectators, anchored by a 15,000-seat Centre Court and an 8,000-seat multi-purpose arena.
Tennis architecture shaped by the Tuwaiq Mountains
Located approximately 45km west of Riyadh, the National Tennis Centre is shaped by the terrain of the Tuwaiq Mountains, with layered landscapes and green facades linking the Centre Court to its surroundings.
The 15,000-seat Centre Court will serve as the main venue for major tournaments and features a retractable roof. Nearby, an 8,000-seat arena is designed to host concerts, sporting events, and cultural programming alongside tennis competitions.
Across the wider site, competition courts, indoor courts, and practice facilities are arranged alongside public spaces. The layout brings elite competition venues and community facilities into the same complex, allowing professional tournaments, training programmes, and public participation to coexist.
High-performance training and community access
A High Performance Training Centre is part of the development and will provide facilities for athlete preparation and recovery. It will include gyms, hydrotherapy and physiotherapy suites, recovery spaces, player lounges, and dedicated support facilities.
Alongside the elite training infrastructure, the project incorporates community tennis programmes, public spaces, fan zones, and hospitality areas. Together, these facilities allow the complex to remain active beyond major tournament periods. The Centre Court and 8,000-seat arena are also designed to host concerts, cultural events, and other large gatherings.
The National Tennis Centre joins a growing collection of projects planned within Qiddiya City, including Six Flags Qiddiya City, Aquarabia, PlayMaker Studios, the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium, a championship golf course, a horse racing venue, a dedicated gaming and esports district, and the Qiddiya Performing Arts Centre.
Images: Courtesy of Populous
