In the countries of  Golf , the development of padel adapts to local climatic and cultural constraints. The sport is experiencing strong expansion, particularly in the  indoor clubs , which are imposed as the norm in the face of the  loss of speed of outdoor installations Three countries dominate the regional landscape:  Qatar , the  United Arab Emirates  and the  Saudi Arabia , each with its own specificities.

 Sources: Playtomic, News Reports, Strategy & analysis 

Strong common trends

  • Padel is a  service sport , with dedicated staff to attract and retain players, but still low digitalization.
  • The  local investors  are active, while the  international players (expatriates)  form a significant part of the clientele.
  • The sport is still young in the local competitive culture, but it is attractive thanks to  its accessibility for beginners  and sometimes to  royal support  (especially in Saudi Arabia).

Qatar: a mature but controlled market

  • The market is  already well structured , with high-end clubs like  Sports Dom .
  • New club openings are  limited by government restrictions , which regulate the number of users.
  • Women play on  separate grounds  or at different times, which hinders the emergence of mixed practice.

United Arab Emirates: Consolidation and Opening

  • The country only sees the emergence of  very big clubs , in a logic of  market concentration .
  • The market is  very mature , with the gradual closure of small outdoor clubs.
  • Unlike its neighbors, the Emirates know  little gender separation , promoting a more open practice.

Saudi Arabia: The Golden Years of Padel

  • Saudi Arabia is experiencing a  rapid expansion phase , supported by  government incentives  in the sport.
  • Only from  very big clubs  are emerging, in a logic of massification.
  • There is a tendency to  reduce the separation between men and women , although local women are still underrepresented.

Padel is growing rapidly in the Middle East, but mainly indoors, with a  elitist logic ,  high-end clubs , and a growing presence of expatriates While cultural constraints remain, particularly for women, the current dynamic suggests strong medium-term potential across the region.

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovered padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since then, padel has been part of his life. You often see him touring France to cover major French padel events.

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