Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.

The Middle East has several notable tennis ports of call with Dubai being a fixture since 1993 and the Qatari capital of Doha being a previous host of the WTA Finals and now, like it’s Arabian Gulf neighbor having both male and female tournaments. Abu Dhabi has its’ lucrative New Year Mubadala-backed exhibition that is coming up for an eighth anniversary and now Kuwait looks likely to get into the act.

Work has begun on a new state-of-the-art tennis complex as part of 360 Mall that has been granted a construction budget of US$300 million. The plans include two stadium courts with a combined capacity for 7,600 spectators, plus a further 16 courts, eight indoors and eight out.

The outdoor courts will have room for 1,500 spectators and international tennis events, probably starting with the ATP Champions Tour are being planned for 2019 with the ATP World Tour and WTA hopefully to follow.

Sheikh Ahmed Al Jaber Al Abdullah Al Sabah is currently President of the Kuwait Tennis Federation, President of the Arab Tennis Federation and Chairman of the Asian Tennis Federation. The new tennis facility would be built in his name and he said: “The Sheikh Jaber Al Abdullah Al Jaber Al International Tennis Complex will become one of the world’s best tennis facilities in line with International Tennis Federation and Association of Tennis Professionals standards, thus putting Kuwait on the world’s tennis map.

“We are drawing on the best of designs from similar tennis facilities globally and will provide Kuwaitis with playing conditions that will match the world’s best. The layout and number of courts are inherently flexible and the facilities will all conform to the very best standards set internationally by the International Tennis Federation and the ATP World Tour.

“We will host tournaments and championships run by these prestigious organizations, along with local and regional competitions.”

Kuwait currently competes in the Davis Cup’s Asia/Oceania Zone Group II, first taking part in 1989. But the plan of the new facility, as well as bringing top flight tennis to the country, is to heighten the level of participation amongst Kuwaitis.

Sheikh Ahmad added: “Kuwaitis have a long history of tennis and we produce some of the top players in the GCC. It is time we showcased to the world our sporting prowess and infrastructure.

“Few facilities in the world offer such indoor tennis facilities adjacent to a fine range of outdoor courts. This is unprecedented except for the Grand Slam grounds.”

Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.