Dubai Presents the World’s First Underwater Tennis Court

Dubai continues to push the boundaries of unconventional tennis venues. In 2005, a court was perched atop the iconic Burj al Arab hotel to showcase the Dubai Tennis Championships. Now, an architect from Poland, Krysztof Kotala, has proposed a visionary concept a tennis court submerged beneath the sea.
Kotala, a graduate of prestigious institutions including the Royal Institute of British Architects and Krakow Polytechnic, envisions an underwater tennis complex nestled between the Burj al Arab and Palm Jumeirah islands in the Persian Gulf. This ambitious project combines sports arena functionality with the immersive experience of an aquarium.
The proposed complex features seven courts, complemented by a rooftop coral reef designed to attract marine life, offering spectators and players a unique underwater spectacle akin to a natural atoll. However, transforming this concept into reality presents significant engineering hurdles, such as crafting a single, robust glass structure capable of withstanding underwater pressure.
Despite these challenges, Kotala believes that should developers pursue this venture, the arena could become a fitting venue for a prestigious tennis event, perhaps even earning the designation as a fifth Grand Slam location.