Plans have been unveiled for a large sports city in Abu Dhabi which will combine elite sports facilities, education, technology and residential housing.
Gulf News said when it is completed ZPTM Abu Dhabi will benefit both local residents and international athletes.
The ZPTM Abu Dhabi project is a massive 4.3 million-square-meter integrated sports, education, technology, and residential masterplan unveiled by JT7Group and the Abu Dhabi National Investment and Development (ADID).
The plans include multi-sport training venues, a professional athlete campus, recovery and medical facilities, testing and analytics infrastructure, an esports and mind sports centre, a sports and wellness hotel and residential neighbourhoods.
Future phases could also feature a larger stadium and a multi-purpose dome designed to host sporting competitions, entertainment, technology showcases and immersive events.
A central feature will be an elite sports boarding school intended to combine academic education with specialist coaching, high-performance training and athlete wellbeing.
The school is being planned as the first international elite sports boarding school of its scale in the Middle East, with an opening targeted for 2029.
The wider residential development is expected to include around 1,700 apartments, semi-detached villas and villas within the sports city for local and international buyers.
A separate programme is planned to deliver approximately 2,000 homes for Emirati families, alongside community facilities and green spaces.
The $3 billion development is being advanced with support from international institutional capital partners, with Riverside Management Group (RMG) leading engagement with investors, financial structuring and strategic project planning.
ADID, JT7Group and RMG will now work on the development structure, masterplan, financing preparations, stakeholder engagement and the approvals required to move the project forward.
Construction is planned to begin in early 2027, subject to the necessary approvals and final agreements, with delivery expected to take place in phases over approximately three to five years.
Liverpool FC football legend Sir Kenny Dalglish is representing JT Seven Group in the project. He told Gulf News: “”I think what we’re building offers a fantastic opportunity for the local community here in Abu Dhabi.
“Of course, it will be an incredible sports destination but it’s not just for sports, it’s going to be for everybody.
“Sport can change lives when young people have the right place to learn and grow. We want to bring education, coaching, facilities and support together, and make the wider community part of it. I’m proud to represent JT7Group alongside ADID as we work towards a destination that could set a new standard for sport in Abu Dhabi and beyond.”
For ADID, the ambition is to create a destination that serves Abu Dhabi’s residents while attracting international sporting talent and expertise.
Shamsa Alfahim, chief executive officer of ADID, said: “This is an opportunity to create a sports city with international reach and lasting value for Abu Dhabi. Alongside the sports and education facilities, we want to provide quality homes for Emirati families.
“Bringing the plans forward in phases, with the right partners around the table, can create a destination that serves the community and attracts talent from around the world.”
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