Zaria Court Kigali launched officially last night, marking a transformative moment for African sports, entertainment, and urban development.
The $26 million flagship mixed-use complex, adjacent to Kigali’s BK Arena and Amahoro Stadium, is the inaugural project of Zaria Group—co-founded by NBA Champion Masai Ujiri and Helios Sports and Entertainment Group.
Hundreds of dignitaries, including Aliko Dangote, Chiney Ogwumike, and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, attended the opening, heralding the venue as a premier continental hub for community, creativity, and commerce.
Ujiri framed the project as foundational to Africa’s cultural renaissance: “This is more than a building; it’s where African excellence takes center stage. We’re building ecosystems that create economies—courts create communities, venues create value.”
Zaria Court’s design integrates an 80-room boutique hotel, a 2,000-capacity event space, podcast studios, co-working areas, sports facilities (including public basketball courts and football pitches), retail outlets, and child-friendly public zones. Strategically positioned to leverage Rwanda’s innovation landscape, the development aims to generate over 500 jobs, prioritizing youth and women-led enterprises through retail incubation programs.
President Kagame underscored its continental significance: “Sport unites Africa daily. This ecosystem’s influence will extend beyond Rwanda, nurturing limitless talent and elevating multiple sectors.” The project anchors Zaria Group’s expansion strategy, targeting five African cities by 2030.
Andrew Feinstein, Managing Director of Zaria Group, emphasized its replicable model: “We transform underutilized urban assets into economic engines—delivering jobs, opportunities, and community impact.”
Institutional partnerships proved critical, with BK Capital as investment banker, Bank of Kigali providing financing, and Helios Sports supplying equity expertise.
Designed by Amsterdam’s NLÉ Works (led by architect Kunle Adeyemi) and managed by Aleph Hospitality (hotel) and QA Venue Solutions (campus operations), Zaria Court arrives amid surging global interest in Africa’s creative economy. Its launch signals growing confidence in sport-anchored infrastructure to drive scalable cultural and economic returns across the continent.
