The Shaikh Jaber Al Abdullah Al Jaber Al Sabah International Tennis Complex and Rafa Nadal Academy opened in February– putting Kuwait on the international tennis map. The tennis complex features a 5,000-seat multipurpose arena, a world-class Tennis Academy with a 1,500-seat center court, 18 indoor and outdoor tennis courts and 4,400 parking spaces. The project is a major anchor of a larger mixed-use retail, office, leisure and sports destination designed by CallisonRTKL and developed by Tamdeen Group
The project uses a series of rich and natural materials to reflect the local Kuwaiti culture and context in a uniquely modern way. The curving forms and sweeping lines of the facade, which appear to emanate from the Arena, reflect the dynamic movement of the players during a tennis match.
The Academy, which is dedicated to racket sports, leisure and fitness, was inaugurated on February 5th, 2020 by the legendary sportsman Rafael Nadal. The 19-time Grand Slam champion faced former top-ranking ATP player David Ferrer in the inaugural Rafa Nadal Academy Kuwait Champions Challenge in front of a sold-out crowd.
One of Kuwait’s pioneering public-private partnership projects, this is the biggest sports initiative in value and size under the Kuwait Public Authority for Sport. It is directly linked to Tamdeen Group’s award-winning flagship 360 Mall (also designed by CallisonRTKL). “The creation of this fascinating project was an important milestone in the vision of our wise leadership and government to invest in youth and nurture their talent in recognition of the vital role that the youth play in the developmental process,” said Mohammed Mustafa Marzouq Al-Marzouq, General Manager of Tamdeen Sports.
About CallisonRTKL
CallisonRTKL is a global architecture, planning and design practice. Over the last 70 years, we have created some of the world’s most memorable and successful environments for developers, retailers, investors, institutions and public entities. Our work has set us apart as the number one retail design firm in the world and a top-five architecture practice across multiple disciplines and sectors. Under the Arcadis umbrella, we continue to expand our sphere of influence and the depth and breadth of our resources. Our team of nearly 1,500 professionals around the world is committed to advancing our clients’ businesses and enhancing quality of life. callisonrtkl.com
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