Gaby Reca Padel Academy Abu Dhabi

Gaby Reca Padel Academy Abu Dhabi is the flagship UAE academy of former World No. 1 and 5x World Champion Gaby Reca. It sits inside the ACTIVE Pavilion at ACTIVE Al Maryah Sports & Recreation, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi.

The academy opened in March 2024 under an exclusive partnership with Abu Dhabi Entertainment Company, taking up residence on the island’s dedicated padel block of seven Crystal courts. Players reach the venue via Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Bridge, with ACTIVE’s wider 90,000 sqm sports campus surrounding the pavilion.

Ariant Moya, Regional Director for the GCC, leads a team of 11 certified coaches accredited by Gaby Reca himself. The full programme is published on the Gaby Reca Padel Academy site, with bookings handled through Playtomic.

The padel courts

The Al Maryah block runs to seven double padel courts in total: four indoor courts inside the air-conditioned ACTIVE Pavilion and three outdoor courts alongside. All seven are Crystal panoramic courts with full glass walls, professional-spec turf and bright LED lighting for evening sessions.

Two of the indoor courts double as Al Maryah Island’s only private ladies-only courts, screened off from the rest of the pavilion and staffed by female coaches for dedicated women’s sessions. The remaining indoor courts stay climate-controlled year round, while the outdoor trio sits under the pavilion’s open frame for cooler-month play.

Booking padel and access

Courts run from 07:00 to 23:00 every day of the week, including weekends. Standard court hire is AED 200 per court for 60 minutes, AED 300 per court for 90 minutes and AED 400 per court for 120 minutes.

Split four ways across a doubles match, that works out at roughly AED 50 per person for an hour or AED 100 per person for the two-hour block. Live rates and any promotional offers show at the booking step on Playtomic.

Bookings go through Playtomic - players can book a court on Playtomic up to several days in advance, with peak evening slots filling early. Rackets and balls are available to hire on site, and parking inside the ACTIVE complex is free.

Changing rooms, showers and WiFi are included, and the pavilion has step-free access throughout. For coaching enquiries, group bookings or corporate events, contact the academy on +971 58 596 3544 (call or WhatsApp) or email almaryah@gabyrecaacademy.com.

Padel programme and social

The Gaby Reca methodology runs through everything: lessons for children from age four upwards, junior pathway groups, adult clinics, technical workshops and competitive squads. The academy also stages weekly social nights, mix-ins and skill-based competitions for Abu Dhabi’s growing padel community.

Ladies’ padel is a flagship pillar - the private indoor courts host women-only group lessons, mix-ins and clinics led by the academy’s female coaching staff. Gaby Reca himself visits the Al Maryah branch periodically for masterclasses and mentoring sessions.

The academy also runs an International Programme that links its UAE players to the Fitup Padel centres in Madrid for immersion weeks. Detailed coaching tiers and rates appear on the coaching tab.

An on-site padel store inside the pavilion stocks rackets, grips, shoes and apparel, and the wider ACTIVE Al Maryah campus adds ATP-spec tennis courts, football pitches, an indoor football dome and a fitness studio for cross-training.

Best for padel in Abu Dhabi

This is the natural home for players who want a serious academy environment in Abu Dhabi - structured coaching pathways and a head coach with World Tour pedigree. The ladies-only private courts also make it a strong pick for women who prefer screened sessions, and the family programmes suit juniors from age four.

Casual walk-on play is welcome at standard Playtomic rates, but the venue’s real value is its coaching depth and the Gaby Reca International Programme. Players chasing the cheapest open-court rate in the emirate may prefer a pay-and-play-only venue, though few sit within the central Al Maryah location.

In-house academy led by 5x World Champion Gaby Reca, with Ariant Moya as GCC Regional Director and a team of 11 certified coaches running junior, adult, ladies-only and competitive squad programmes plus the Gaby Reca International Programme linking to Madrid.