Active Al Maryah

Active Al Maryah is a premium sports and recreation complex on Al Maryah Island in Abu Dhabi. Owned by Mubadala Investment Company and managed by Abu Dhabi Entertainment Company, the Active Al Maryah padel offering sits within a 98,400 square metre facility at ACTIVE Al Maryah Sports & Recreation, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi.

The complex is positioned between the Galleria Mall, Four Seasons Hotel, and Rosewood Abu Dhabi. Free parking is on site, with easy road access from both Reem Island and Saadiyat Island.

Opened in January 2021, the venue quickly became one of Abu Dhabi’s most popular multi-sport destinations. Padel arrived with the opening of the 3,500 square metre ACTIVE Sports Pavilion in November 2022, a fully climate-controlled indoor hall.

In March 2024, the facility partnered with former world number one and five-time world champion Gaby Reca. This launched the first Gaby Reca Padel Academy branch in Abu Dhabi, adding structured coaching and competitive programming to the existing pay-and-play model.

Beyond padel, the complex includes football pitches, the ACTIVE Dome indoor football facility, seven ATP-standard tennis courts, multi-sport courts for basketball, volleyball, netball and handball, an F45 fitness studio, and gymnastics facilities. Food trucks rotate on site, and a healthy cafe inside the Sports Pavilion serves light meals.

The padel courts

Active Al Maryah has seven padel courts in total. Three are outdoor panoramic doubles courts, open to the elements and floodlit for evening play. Four sit inside the ACTIVE Sports Pavilion, a fully air-conditioned indoor venue with synthetic grass surfaces approved by the International Padel Federation.

Two of the four indoor courts are designated as ladies-only, with a dedicated female coach running sessions in a private setting. All seven courts are doubles-sized with panoramic glass walls, giving players clear sightlines from every angle.

The Gaby Reca Academy operates across three of the courts via a separate Playtomic booking tenant. These courts (Padel 3, Padel 4, and Padel 10) feature crystal-type surfaces and are used for academy coaching sessions. They also appear available for general bookings during non-coaching hours.

Booking and access

Court bookings are handled through Playtomic. The main venue tenant lists all seven courts, while the Gaby Reca Academy runs a separate tenant for its three coached courts. Both are pay-and-play with no membership requirement.

Courts open daily from 06:00 to 23:00 on the main tenant and 07:00 to 23:00 on the academy tenant. Published rates from the venue website are AED 200 for 60 minutes, AED 275 for 90 minutes, and AED 370 for 120 minutes (all VAT inclusive, per court).

That works out to roughly AED 50 per person for a standard 60-minute doubles session. Cancellations on the academy tenant require 24 hours notice. On-site payment is accepted on all courts.

For bookings, call +971 2 403 4488 or email sports@activealmaryah.ae. The Gaby Reca Academy can be reached on WhatsApp at +971 58 596 3544. Coaching enquiries go through a dedicated Google Form linked on the Gaby Reca Academy website.

Free parking is available directly at the complex. Shower and changing facilities are on site, along with complimentary filtered water stations from No More Bottles and equipment available for hire.

Padel programme and social

The Gaby Reca Padel Academy is the centrepiece of the coaching programme. Led by a team trained under Gaby Reca’s methods, the academy offers group and private lessons for adults and children from age four upwards. Ladies-only sessions run on the two designated indoor courts with a female coach.

Social nights, skill-based competitions, clinics, and tournaments feature regularly in the calendar. Gaby Reca himself makes periodic visits to the Abu Dhabi branch to engage with players and run masterclasses. The venue also hosts corporate events and international training camps, including the annual Oasis Cup.

An on-site padel store stocks rackets, apparel, and equipment with expert advice available. The Wilson equipment kiosk supplements this with additional gear options. For coaching enquiries, contact the academy directly via WhatsApp or the enquiry form on their website.

Best for

Active Al Maryah suits players who want a complete sports destination rather than a standalone padel club. The mix of indoor and outdoor courts means year-round play regardless of Abu Dhabi’s summer heat. The Gaby Reca Academy makes it one of the strongest coaching venues in the emirate.

Ladies-only courts with a female coach make it genuinely welcoming for women who prefer a private playing environment. Families benefit from junior programmes starting at age four and the wider sports facilities on site. Competitive players will find the tournament calendar and academy clinics keep things sharp.

The location on Al Maryah Island puts it close to Abu Dhabi’s business district, making it practical for after-work sessions. Players looking for a dedicated padel-only atmosphere may find the multi-sport environment less focused. Peak-time availability can be tight given the academy blocks court time for coaching.

The Gaby Reca Padel Academy operates on site, led by a team trained under former world number one and five-time world champion Gaby Reca. Group and private lessons are available for adults and children from age four, with ladies-only sessions on dedicated courts.