en.Wedoany.com Reported - Qiddiya Investment Company announced on June 15 that it will build a National Tennis Center as part of its Qiddiya City development project. Located approximately 45 kilometers west of Riyadh, the complex will feature 30 courts, including two venues with retractable roofs and 33,000 spectator seats.
Qiddiya City is one of Saudi Arabia's flagship "Vision 2030" development projects, backed by the Public Investment Fund, and is planned as a destination integrating sports, entertainment, and culture. The project also includes Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium, a gaming and esports district, theme parks, residential areas, and transportation infrastructure.
According to the developer, the project will be led by a joint venture between France's Bouygues Bâtiment International and Saudi Arabia's Almabani General Contractors, under a design-build contract model. Populous serves as lead architect, lead interior designer, and lead master planner. Thornton Tomasetti is responsible for structural and facade engineering, Langan for geotechnical and civil engineering, ME Engineers for mechanical and electrical engineering consulting, AESG for sustainability consulting, and STRI for sports field consulting. Preliminary works on the project began in February 2025.
The specific configuration of the National Tennis Center includes a 15,000-seat center court, a 5,000-seat court, a 2,000-seat court, and an 8,000-seat arena. The venue encompasses 28 hard courts and 2 clay courts, and features a high-performance training center, gym, spa and physiotherapy suites, athlete recovery and wellness spaces, player lounges, dedicated changing facilities, and a media center with meeting rooms.
The center court and arena are each equipped with a two-panel sliding retractable roof system, capable of creating a 54-meter opening above the playing surface. The developer told ENR that the roof can transition from fully closed to fully open in 5 to 7 minutes and can be partially adjusted during matches to manage court shading and playing conditions.
Shireen Hamdan, Global Director of Populous and General Manager of Populous Saudi Arabia, stated in a press release that the National Tennis Center will become a significant new destination for elite tennis championships, noting that the project's integration of community and elite sports facilities is rare among similar venues. Populous has served as the architect for U.S. sports projects including Yankee Stadium, T-Mobile Arena, and the under-construction New Buffalo Bills Stadium in New York.
The complex is integrated into the Tuwaiq Mountain landscape, featuring layered green facades, and is adjacent to a championship golf course designed by Sir Nick Faldo, as well as future residential, office, and retail areas. The project's limited footprint requires detailed logistical planning for equipment, materials, and construction phases. The developer stated that high winds have impacted tower crane operations, increasing reliance on mobile cranes, while dust control measures and a stormwater management plan have been implemented to maintain on-site operations.
In terms of sustainability measures, the project includes green walls on the tennis center buildings, including the center court, to reduce surface and ambient temperatures and improve air quality. The irrigation system will use treated reclaimed water for non-potable purposes. The project uses low-carbon concrete mixtures to reduce traditional concrete usage, procurement specifications prioritize suppliers of recycled steel, traditional generators will be replaced by battery-powered systems, and the goal is to divert or recycle at least 80% of construction waste.
Abdullah Aldawood, Managing Director of Qiddiya Investment Company, stated in a press release that the project is creating a world-class venue for tennis at all levels, noting that it is being built to ATP, WTA, and International Tennis Federation standards. In addition to tennis matches, the center court and arena are designed to host concerts, esports events, and other cultural programs. Other Qiddiya projects include Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium and the gaming and esports district. The developer did not disclose the project's value or expected completion date.
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