Meet PadelX: The Unique Courts Pushing Dubai’s Padel Scene into Uncharted Waters
Dubai has never been a city that does things by halves. What began as a modest trading port has transformed into a global metropolis defined by jaw-dropping architecture and headline-grabbing ambition.
That same all-or-nothing approach now runs through its sport and fitness scene. Gyms here are no longer just weights thrown into a room, but carefully curated wellness experiences — each bringing something fresh to the table.
It’s little surprise, then, that padel has followed suit. With padel now widely recognised as the world’s fastest-growing sport — and certainly the most Instagrammable — courts are cropping up in increasingly unlikely settings.
From rooftops overlooking the Marina to, most memorably, out on the water itself, Dubai is home to some of the most visually stunning padel settings around.
Before Viya Fit Mina Seyahi raised the bar with its skyline views, Dubai introduced something truly unique: a floating padel club.
And if padel quite literally floats your boat, you’ll want to know all about PadelX.
Introducing PadelX Dubai
Hailing from Sweden, PadelX docked in Dubai with a long track record of placing courts where you’d least expect them.
The company had already made a name for itself in China by installing the first padel court in Shanghai on the rooftop of the region’s largest shopping centre.
The concept of floating padel courts was one it had been working on for some time, and the man-made lake at Jumeirah Lake Towers provided the perfect setting for PadelX to execute that vision.
Located near Cluster 1, PadelX Dubai first opened in early 2023 as the first padel court among the area’s residential and office buildings.
Accessible via a footbridge, the two courts are rooted in the lake bed but surrounded by water and Perspex walls on all sides, allowing players to soak in the views as they rally.
Both courts, collectively known as the Padel Islands Floating Club, are open daily between 6am and 11pm and available to book from AED 350 for a one-hour slot.
PadelX says the concept was designed to inject the fun back into sport, replacing pressure with “good vibes and good health only”.
Three years on from launch, and the city’s residents are still loving it — despite plenty more padel courts cropping up in the meantime.
If you want to try it for yourself, bookings can be made via Playtomic.
Beyond Padel
With such an incredible venue at their disposal, PadelX was always going to expand beyond racquet sports.
While padel-focused events, coaching sessions, tournaments and even speed-dating mixers dominate the schedule, there’s plenty more on offer.
The courts have recently started being used for yoga and Pilates mornings, bringing a dose of mindfulness to the padel pontoon.
Visit Padel Islands’ website to ensure you never miss a session, and experience Dubai’s latest fitness obsession in a setting like no other.
