We visited Zaria Court, an exciting new development in Kigali’s Sports City district, and enjoyed walking around the central court. This innovative project has transformed a historically significant modernist building into a vibrant hub for sports, entertainment, hospitality and culture.
Originally built to accommodate athletes near Amahoro Stadium and BK Arena, the building has played important roles in Rwanda’s history, including serving as the United Nations’ temporary headquarters during the 1994 Genocide and later supporting health authorities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today, Zaria Court brings new life to the space, with a boutique hotel, sports facilities, a swimming pool, a rooftop bar, green spaces and retail areas supporting local entrepreneurs. Developed in partnership with Masai Ujiri, former President of the Toronto Raptors and founder of Giants of Africa, the project reflects a vision of empowering young people through sport and creativity.
It was wonderful to walk around the court and see how architecture, history and community come together in a space that looks towards Kigali’s future.
