Saudi Arabia is developing one of the Middle East’s most ambitious tennis facilities, with construction underway on a 30-court National Tennis Centre at Qiddiya City, west of Riyadh.
The project, developed by Qiddiya Investment Company and designed by international sports architecture firm Populous, will feature a 15,000-seat Centre Court, additional competition venues, training facilities and public spaces designed for year-round use.
The scale of the development is impressive, but its significance extends beyond the construction of another major sporting venue.
Saudi Arabia is investing in an industry that connects international sporting events with tourism, hospitality, entertainment, infrastructure and private sector growth. For a country working to diversify its economy under Vision 2030, the commercial potential of these connections is an important part of the investment rationale.
The National Tennis Centre offers a useful example of how the Kingdom is seeking to develop sports infrastructure that serves both international competition and its domestic economy.
Key Takeaways
- A major sports infrastructure investment: Construction is underway on Qiddiya City’s National Tennis Centre, featuring 30 tennis courts and a 15,000-seat Centre Court with a retractable roof.
- Designed for international competition: The facility is being developed to ATP, WTA and ITF standards, with additional arenas, training facilities and public spaces.
- Supporting Vision 2030: The project forms part of Saudi Arabia’s wider strategy to develop tourism, entertainment, sport and economic activity beyond the oil sector.
- A new international tennis destination: Saudi Arabia has secured an agreement to introduce a tenth ATP Masters 1000 tournament, potentially beginning in 2028, although Qiddiya has not been officially confirmed as its venue.
- Economic opportunities beyond tennis: International events and year-round venue operations could create demand across construction, hospitality, event management, sports technology and professional services.
- Potential for Australian expertise: Australia’s experience in major sporting events, venue operations and athlete development provides a basis for exploring future commercial engagement, without implying that specific contracts have been awarded.
Inside the National Tennis Centre
The National Tennis Centre has been designed as a comprehensive sporting destination rather than a single tournament stadium.
Its 30 courts will include 28 hard courts and two clay courts, with facilities intended to accommodate international competitions, professional training, domestic player development and community participation.
At the centre of the development will be a 15,000-seat main arena with a retractable roof. Three additional show courts will offer capacities of 5,000, 2,000 and 8,000 spectators respectively.
The 8,000-seat Court 3 will operate as a multi-purpose arena capable of accommodating sporting competitions, concerts and other major events. It will also feature a retractable roof.
Across the wider complex, total spectator seating is planned to reach approximately 33,000.
The development will also include indoor courts, practice facilities, fan zones, public spaces and a dedicated training centre to support the development of Saudi tennis players.
Populous has designed the complex around both elite competition and public accessibility, incorporating pedestrian spaces and landscaping suited to the local environment.
According to the Public Investment Fund (PIF), construction was already well underway when the project was formally detailed in June 2026.
An official construction completion percentage or confirmed opening date has not been published in the referenced announcements.
International Tennis Is Part of a Larger Strategy
The National Tennis Centre is being developed at a time when Saudi Arabia is expanding its presence in professional tennis.
In October 2025, PIF-owned SURJ Sports Investment and the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) announced an agreement to introduce a new ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Saudi Arabia.
The agreement represents the first expansion of the Masters 1000 category since its introduction in 1990, positioning Saudi Arabia to become the tenth host of this level of men’s professional tennis.
The tournament could begin as early as 2028, although its final venue and schedule have not been officially confirmed.
Media reporting has identified Qiddiya as a potential home for the event, but the distinction between an anticipated venue and a confirmed hosting arrangement remains important.
For Saudi Arabia, the strategy extends beyond securing another international sporting event.
A major tournament can create international visibility, bring professional athletes and spectators into the country, and support demand for services across several industries.
Establishing a purpose-built facility also provides infrastructure for domestic competitions, training programmes and community activities, extending its potential use beyond a single international tournament.
The commercial opportunity comes from connecting these activities rather than treating each event as an isolated investment.
How Sports Infrastructure Supports Vision 2030
Saudi Arabia’s investment in Qiddiya is closely aligned with the broader economic objectives of Vision 2030.
The Kingdom is seeking to expand non-oil economic activity, attract international visitors, strengthen private sector participation and develop industries capable of supporting employment and long-term growth.
Sport and entertainment contribute to this strategy by creating demand across several connected sectors.
A major international tournament, for example, can support hotel occupancy, restaurant activity, transport services, event production, sponsorship, broadcasting and local tourism.
A venue capable of hosting concerts and other events may also generate activity outside the tennis calendar.
This broader economic relationship is important when assessing the National Tennis Centre as an investment.
The question is not simply how many spectators a stadium can accommodate, but how frequently the facilities are used, what additional economic activity they support and how successfully they integrate with the surrounding destination.
Qiddiya City’s wider development strategy follows a similar approach.
The destination is being developed around sport, culture and entertainment, with attractions and facilities intended to encourage visitors to spend time across multiple experiences.
The National Tennis Centre adds another component to that offering and may help strengthen Qiddiya’s appeal to both domestic and international audiences.
Saudi Arabia’s wider investment in a growing non-oil private sector provides useful context for understanding why projects of this nature have become a priority.
From an economic development perspective, the value of sports infrastructure lies in its ability to support industries around it, as well as the events taking place inside it.
A Wider Investment Opportunity for International Businesses
Large sports developments require expertise from a broad range of industries, and the National Tennis Centre is no exception.
The construction phase involves specialised engineering, venue design, building systems, materials, project delivery and infrastructure services.
Once operational, a facility of this scale will also require event management, maintenance, technology systems, security, hospitality, commercial partnerships and ongoing venue management.
The presence of a multi-purpose arena increases the range of potential activities and supporting services.
For international businesses, these developments can create opportunities to participate in Saudi Arabia’s expanding sports and entertainment sector.
However, opportunities must be assessed according to each project’s procurement requirements, local regulations, partnership structures and commercial conditions.
The announcement of a major development does not automatically mean that contracts are available or that international suppliers have secured participation.
In its broader analysis of Saudi Arabia’s infrastructure pipeline and opportunities for Australian expertise, ASBC/F has identified construction, urban development and specialised infrastructure services as areas of potential engagement.
Qiddiya demonstrates why these capabilities are increasingly relevant as the Kingdom moves from announcing major projects towards delivering and operating them.
For businesses considering entry into Saudi Arabia, the more useful question is not simply whether a project is large, but where their expertise can address a specific operational or technical requirement.
More Than a Stadium: Building a Sustainable Sports Ecosystem
One of the most significant aspects of the National Tennis Centre is its planned contribution to domestic participation and athlete development.
The development includes training facilities designed to support Saudi players, alongside spaces that can be used by the wider community.
This creates an opportunity to strengthen the country’s tennis ecosystem beyond international tournaments.
Professional competitions can attract attention to a sport, but long-term growth also depends on coaching, accessible facilities, junior development pathways and regular participation.
The connection between elite sport and grassroots development is particularly relevant in a market where tennis infrastructure and participation opportunities are being expanded.
There is also a commercial dimension.
Regular local use, training programmes, community activities and domestic events can help sustain demand for facilities throughout the year.
That does not guarantee a financial return, but it broadens the ways a major sporting complex can create value.
The centre’s multi-use design follows a similar principle by allowing parts of the facility to accommodate activities beyond tennis.
Qiddiya’s planned world-class horse racing venue provides another example of the Kingdom’s approach to developing internationally recognised sporting facilities within a larger entertainment and tourism destination.
Together, these projects illustrate how Saudi Arabia is building a portfolio of sporting assets intended to support international events, visitor activity and domestic sports development.
Where Australian Expertise Could Contribute
Australia has considerable experience in international sport, from hosting the Australian Open to delivering major sporting infrastructure and managing large-scale events.
The country has developed capabilities across stadium design, sports administration, venue operations, broadcasting, athlete performance, coaching and event logistics.
These are areas that may be relevant to Saudi Arabia’s expanding sports economy.
For Australian businesses, potential opportunities could include specialised venue services, technology integration, sports science, training programmes, event operations and infrastructure consultancy.
Australia’s preparations for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games add another dimension to this experience, with major new sports infrastructure progressing through planning and delivery.
Although Brisbane 2032 and Qiddiya serve different sporting and economic objectives, both demonstrate the technical and operational requirements associated with developing facilities for major international events.
For Australian companies, the commercial potential in Saudi Arabia is therefore broader than stadium construction alone.
It includes the services, expertise and partnerships required to operate complex sporting facilities and deliver high-quality events over time.
The Australian Saudi Business Council and Forum (ASBC/F) continues to support business engagement between the two countries across sectors including infrastructure, technology, investment and professional services.
As Saudi Arabia expands its sports economy, these existing channels of commercial engagement may provide a useful foundation for future industry relationships.
However, no specific Australian contracts connected to the National Tennis Centre have been established through the announcements referenced in this article.
The Next Stage: From Development to Economic Activity
The National Tennis Centre represents a substantial investment in Saudi Arabia’s sporting infrastructure, but its longer-term economic contribution will become clearer as construction progresses and the facility moves towards operation.
Several developments will be worth monitoring.
These include the confirmation of an opening date, the announcement of future tournament arrangements, progress in domestic player development and the range of events the venue eventually accommodates.
For businesses and investors, the practical measures of success will extend beyond architectural scale.
Visitor demand, venue utilisation, private sector participation, operating performance and the development of supporting industries will all influence the project’s long-term economic contribution.
Saudi Arabia’s decision to develop a major tennis centre within Qiddiya City reflects a wider strategy to connect international sport with tourism, entertainment and economic diversification.
The investment is significant in its own right. Its broader value will depend on how effectively the Kingdom converts world-class infrastructure into sustained sporting participation and commercial activity.
For Australian businesses, that creates a development worth following closely, particularly as Saudi Arabia continues to invest in the industries and expertise needed to support its Vision 2030 objectives.
