Saudi Arabia Begins Construction on Massive 30 Court National Tennis Centre in Qiddiya

Construction works have officially commenced on Saudi Arabia's new National Tennis Centre within Qiddiya City, located 45 kilometres west of Riyadh. The ambitious complex, designed by global sports architecture firm Populous for the Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC), will feature a total of 30 courts at its heart.

The campus incorporates 28 hard courts and two clay courts, integrated directly into the dramatic natural topography of the Tuwaiq Mountains. Reports from The New York Times indicate that the flagship venue could position itself to host its first ever Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Masters 1000 tournament by 2028.

A central element of the development is the 15,000-seat Centre Court arena, which includes a sliding retractable roof system for climate control. This flagship stadium is engineered to meet strict international standards set by the ATP, the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), and the International Tennis Federation (ITF).

According to the design team, the landscape strategy directly responds to the desert Wasi environment. Designers are planning extensive native planting across the site, which aims to create shaded pathways for visitors while reducing long-term irrigation demands on the regional water infrastructure.

The civil and structural works are being delivered under a design-build contract by a joint venture consisting of France-based Bouygues Bâtiment International and Saudi Arabia-based Almabani General Contractors. Beyond the main stadium, the complex will house an 8,000-seat multi-purpose arena, a 5,000-seat secondary court, and a 2,000-seat tertiary court, bringing the total spectator capacity across the entire precinct to 33,000 seats.

Engineering firms Thornton Tomasetti and Langan are providing structural, facade, and geotechnical expertise, while ME Engineers handles the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. Due to the high winds characteristic of the mountainous site, logistics planning has restricted some tower-crane operations, increasing the reliance on heavy mobile cranes for structural assembly.

The project site sits adjacent to a premier 18-hole championship golf course designed by Sir Nick Faldo, which is also nearing completion. To support elite sports performance, the center will integrate an extensive training wing featuring high-performance gyms, hydrotherapy blocks, and dedicated athlete recovery suites.

The master plan ensures that the venue remains an active civic asset throughout the year, combining professional tournament spaces with open public plazas, fan activation zones, and grassroots community tennis academies. Contractors have also prioritized sustainable material procurement, incorporating lower-carbon concrete mixes and recycled steel to align with local environmental targets.