BDP Pattern shapes expansion of Dubai Duty Free Tennis Centre
BDP Pattern has revealed the designs for the redevelopment of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Centre in the UAE.
A new masterplan for the venue supports Dubai Duty Free’s long-term vision to secure the future of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and maintain its status on the ATP 500 and WTA 1000 calendar.
First staged in 1993 and now entering its 34th edition in 2026, the Championships are a cornerstone of Dubai’s international sporting calendar. The Tennis Centre is widely valued by players and fans for its intimate atmosphere and distinctive setting, anchored by the Irish Village and mature landscape. The new experience-centric design builds on the character of the region while modernising the facilities to meet the evolving standards of the ATP tour.
Phase one of the design, which will be complete in time for the 2026 Championships, provides a tournament-ready complex and includes a new, flexible Court One with a refreshed fan-zone and public realm. New shaded routes, places to dwell and a reworked village landscape will create a stronger arrival experience and a more cohesive experience between Centre Court and the new Court One, with spaces that can be used flexibly for the Championships and other events.
Phase two will deliver the expanded Centre Court with capacity increased to 7,500 seats, alongside the completion of the wider fan-zone and landscape works. Court One is designed to be expandable, allowing its capacity to grow in line with the tournament and supplementary events throughout the year.
Across both phases, the design protects what makes the venue special – the Irish Village, the mature trees and the sense of a green retreat within the desert – while upgrading infrastructure, circulation and amenities to support top tier events and more flexible use throughout the year.
“We have been working with BDP, the lead architects on this project since early 2023, and it is great take this design forward and to begin to deliver on the work that has been done.
“The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships is a much-loved tournament that has been running since 1993, and it is right that the overall tournament site is expanded and upgraded for both players and fans to enjoy. There will be notable improvements to the site for the 2026 tournament, including a new Court One. By the 2027 tournament, the existing Centre Court will be transformed and extended to 7,500-seat capacity, which is going to look fantastic.”
“Major sporting venues in the Middle East are evolving as world-class, mixed-use complexes; destinations that deliver atmosphere, comfort and flexibility at scale. Great sports venue design has to balance first-class technical standards with memorable fan experiences and a strong sense of heritage, character and place.
“This project is about securing the future of a much-loved tournament without losing what makes the place distinctive. It’s a beautiful, considerate and practical design that’s flexible and rooted in enabling the seamless operation of the main tournament and other events across the year.”
The landscape architecture strategy retains as many existing trees as possible, reinforcing the microclimate and shade that define the venue, while introducing widened pathways, two new “glade” fan zones and flexible spaces for food, retail, events and informal gatherings. These areas are designed to be flexible and accessible, welcoming fans, local people and tourists every day as well as during Grand Slam-level tournaments.
Together, the phased masterplan strengthens the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Centre as a year-round destination, improves the experience for players, fans and sponsors, and ensures the Championships continue to thrive in Dubai for years to come.