SADEQ ALKHOORI (ABU DHABI)
As the sun sets across Abu Dhabi, padel courts across the capital begin to fill with players arriving after work, rackets in hand. Under bright floodlights, the sound of balls striking glass walls has become part of the city’s evening rhythm.
In recent years, the sport has moved beyond a niche recreational activity to become one of the fastest-growing social sports in the UAE, with new courts appearing across the country as interest continues to rise.
The expansion of facilities reflects the scale of the sport’s growth. According to data from the UAE Padel Association, the country had more than 650 courts by the end of 2022, within a year of the government’s Vision 2021 initiative that set out establishing investment in sports infrastructure to foster a healthy lifestyle even as the world was emerging out of the post-COVID downturn.
Research tracking search behaviour by UK-based World Padel Network last year showed that interest in the sport has grown significantly across the UAE in recent years, with Abu Dhabi and Dubai emerging as key hubs as residents search for courts, clubs and equipment. Passion for the sport since 2022 saw a sharp spike, faster than facilities could be built.
Abu Dhabi-based Emirati player Ali Al Dhanhani recalls the early days. “At the beginning, it was actually difficult to book a court,” he said. “There were very few places to play, and many of the courts were basic.
“Now you can find padel courts in almost every part of Abu Dhabi, and even public parks have free courts because the number of players has grown so much.”
Part of the sport’s appeal lies in its accessibility and the inherent spirit of community as it provisions mostly for play in the doubles format. Padel allows beginners to quickly join games and develop their skills while enjoying the social side of the sport.
“The skill level needed to begin is much lower than other sports,” he said. “If you play with people on your level, you can still have fun and improve together,” Al Dhanhani says.
Saleh Al Darmaki, another Emirati padel player from Abu Dhabi, says, “A lot of people around me started playing it. The game is easier than tennis but still exciting, and the rules feel more flexible.”
As a former tennis player, Al Darmaki says transition to padel was easy. “It doesn’t require as much stamina or power, and there is more freedom in how you play the ball. That makes it enjoyable rather than overly difficult.”
People of different nationalities have also thrived in cosmopolitan UAE. And Luca Conti, an Italian university student, can relate having played padel for five years.
“In Italy, padel has become very popular in recent years,” he said. “When I arrived in Abu Dhabi, I was happy to see that the sport was already growing here as well.”
Another student, Sahetmyrat Abdullayev from Turkmenistan, said padel has become a weekly routine after a friend introduced him to the sport. “A friend showed me padel in Dubai, and after a few games I understood why people enjoy it so much,” he said. “It combines movement and strategy, and it’s easy to start playing even if you’re new.”
Abdullayev added that the sport has also influenced the way many residents socialise in the city. “Instead of meeting in cafés, people often organise padel matches together,” he said. “Even if you go to a public court alone, you can usually find players who need another teammate.”
Globally, padel has become one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, with around 25 million players across more than 100 countries, helping accelerate the sport’s expansion into new markets including the Middle East.
Across the UAE, participation has expanded rapidly as clubs, fitness centres and residential communities add courts to meet demand. Institutional support has also helped. Last November at the Hamdan Sports Complex in Dubai, courts were built over a swimming pool to host the Premier Padel 1 tournament.
Last month, the world’s best four players delivered a historic exhibition match in Abu Dhabi. Arturo Coello, the youngest player in history to reach the world No.1 ranking, Agustín Tapia, the joint world No.1, Spain’s Jorge Nieto and Argentine world champion and world No.3 Federico Chingotto, played that game at Space42 Arena on February 19.
“Padel is growing a lot in Abu Dhabi,” said Coello then, “and today you could really feel how much people enjoyed the match. It’s an amazing event, and I hope people continue to enjoy and discover this sport.”