ESS Padel Indoor

ESS Padel Indoor sits inside Le Meridien Abu Dhabi Resort on Al Zahiyah, off the E14 highway, Abu Dhabi 46066. It is one of three padel venues run by Empower Sport Services across the capital.

Co-founded by professional padel player Marta Apraiz and businesswoman Safaa Bahman, ess padel indoor padel brings a community-driven ethos to a purpose-built indoor setting. The facility is within walking distance of Abu Dhabi Mall and the Corniche waterfront.

ESS was the first organisation in the UAE to convert a tennis court into padel courts, a project completed at the Radisson Blu Corniche. The Le Meridien venue followed as the brand’s dedicated indoor facility.

It sits alongside sister locations ESS Padel Corniche (Radisson Blu, six outdoor courts) and ESS Padel Saadiyat (Park Hyatt, two outdoor courts). All three share the same booking system, coaching team and community events.

The padel courts

The venue has three doubles padel courts - LM 1, LM 2 and LM 3. All three are indoor panoramic courts with full-height tempered glass walls manufactured in Spain to World Padel Tour specifications.

The playing surface is MONDO Supercourt XN synthetic turf, backed by a five-year manufacturer guarantee. Each court is lit by eight Philips LED units for consistent, shadow-free coverage.

Courts are certified by the Spanish Padel Federation. The panoramic glass design gives spectators clear sightlines from all angles during league matches and coaching sessions.

Being fully indoors and climate-controlled, year-round play is comfortable even during Abu Dhabi’s summer months when outdoor temperatures regularly exceed 45 degrees Celsius.

Booking padel and access

ESS Padel Indoor operates as a pay-and-play venue with no membership required. Courts are open daily from 08:00 to midnight (00:00).

Booking is handled through Playtomic, where players can reserve 60-minute, 90-minute or 120-minute sessions. On-site payment is accepted for walk-in availability.

Cancellations must be made at least 24 hours in advance to avoid being charged the full session fee. Racket hire is available from the on-site store.

Private coaching sessions through the ESS Academy start from 225 AED for a 60-minute lesson. Court hire rates for standard bookings appear on Playtomic once a date is selected.

Le Meridien Abu Dhabi Resort provides free parking and private parking for visitors. For enquiries, contact ESS on +971 52 426 6090 or email hello@empowersportservices.com.

Padel programme and social

The ESS Padel Academy runs structured coaching across four progressive levels. Level 1 (Introduction) covers the basics. Level 2 (Back of the Court) works on intermediate glass technique.

Level 3 (Padel Shots) develops volleys, drop shots and smashes. Level 4 (Padel Tactics) prepares advanced players for competitive match play. The venue runs coaching through its Padel Academy - see the coaching tab for tiers and pricing.

A junior academy develops coordination, motor skills and team values for younger players. ESS runs tournaments and social events across all three Abu Dhabi locations.

The indoor courts at Le Meridien are often used for evening leagues and mix-in sessions. A WhatsApp community group helps players find partners and join open matches.

Head coach Marta Apraiz leads the programme with over 15 years of experience and certification from the Federacion Madrilena de Padel. She has a particular focus on women’s padel development.

ESS was founded with the mission of improving lives through sport, and 10 percent of profits are donated to community causes. The brand also supplies and installs padel courts across the UAE.

Best for

ESS Padel Indoor suits players who want to train in air-conditioned comfort without worrying about Abu Dhabi’s extreme summer heat. The structured academy makes it a strong option for beginners and intermediates.

The central Al Zahiyah location is convenient for hotel guests at Le Meridien and nearby office workers looking for a lunchtime or after-work session.

Competitive players wanting a larger court selection may prefer ESS Padel Corniche with its six outdoor courts. Players after a quieter resort setting might try ESS Padel Saadiyat at the Park Hyatt on Saadiyat Island.

Between the three locations, ESS covers most playing preferences across Abu Dhabi. All courts are bookable through the same Playtomic account, making it easy to switch venues.

ESS Padel Academy runs structured coaching across four levels, from introduction to advanced tactics, led by head coach Marta Apraiz (15+ years experience, Federacion Madrilena de Padel certified). A junior academy is also available.