The history of padel is a story of happy accidents and rapid growth — from a single backyard court in Acapulco to 950+ courts across 320+ venues in the UAE today. Padel was invented in 1969 by Enrique Corcuera, and in just over half a century it has become one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. This article traces the history of padel from its Mexican origins, through its conquest of Spain and Latin America, to the climate-controlled boom now sweeping Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
1969: The Acapulco Origin Story
Padel begins with one man and a problem of space. In 1969, Mexican businessman Enrique Corcuera wanted to build a tennis court at his home in Acapulco, but the available plot was too small. Rather than abandon the idea, he improvised.
Corcuera built a smaller court, around 20 by 10 metres, and enclosed it with walls to stop the ball escaping into the neighbouring property. He used solid bats rather than strung rackets and a lower-pressure ball. Almost by accident, he had created a game where the walls were part of the play — and padel was born.
The new sport was social, easy to learn and endlessly fun. Word spread quickly among Corcuera’s friends, and the game soon found its first influential champions.
The 1970s: Spain and Argentina Adopt the Game
Two key friendships carried padel across the Atlantic.
- Alfonso of Hohenlohe, a Spanish aristocrat, played padel at Corcuera’s home, loved it, and built the first courts in Europe at the Marbella Club in Spain in the mid-1970s. From the glamorous Costa del Sol, padel spread through Spanish high society.
- Julio Menditeguy, an Argentine friend of Corcuera, introduced the sport to Argentina, where it took root deeply and grew into a mass-participation game.
These two countries — Spain and Argentina — would go on to dominate padel for decades, producing the overwhelming majority of the sport’s professional stars.
The 1980s–1990s: Codification and Federations
As the game grew, it needed structure. Standardised court dimensions and rules were established, and national federations began to form. The International Padel Federation (FIP) was founded in 1991, bringing the founding nations together and laying the groundwork for international competition.
Throughout the 1990s, padel exploded in popularity across Spain and Argentina, becoming a genuine mainstream sport with thousands of clubs and millions of recreational players.
The 2000s–2010s: From Niche to Global
For years padel was a phenomenon largely confined to the Spanish-speaking world. That changed in the 2010s, when the sport began a remarkable global expansion. Courts appeared across Europe, the Middle East and beyond, and the professional game grew more organised and better funded.
The launch of a unified, well-resourced professional tour gave the sport global broadcast reach and recognisable stars, accelerating padel’s spread into new markets — including the Gulf.
Padel Comes to the UAE
Few places have embraced padel as enthusiastically as the United Arab Emirates. The sport’s combination of social play, quick learning curve and compact court proved a perfect fit for the country’s active, community-minded lifestyle.
By 2026, the UAE is home to 950+ padel courts across 320+ venues, with Dubai alone hosting more than 400 and Abu Dhabi’s scene growing fast. A crucial factor in this boom is climate: the vast majority of UAE courts are indoor and climate-controlled, which is essential during the summer months from June to September, when temperatures regularly top 40°C. Air-conditioned courts mean padel is a true year-round sport in the Emirates.
A Home-Grown Competitive Scene
The UAE is no longer just playing the game — it is building competition around it. The Abu Dhabi Padel League launched its 2026 season on 9 May, giving local players a structured, home-grown league to compete in. The Gulf has also become an important stop on the international professional calendar, with marquee events drawing the world’s best players to the region.
Why Padel’s History Matters to You
Understanding where padel came from explains why it plays the way it does:
- The walls exist because Corcuera needed to contain the ball in a small space — and they became the sport’s signature feature.
- The doubles format and compact court make padel social and accessible, which is exactly why it spread so fast.
- The underhand serve and lower-pressure ball keep rallies long and inclusive for players of every level.
From a backyard in Acapulco to air-conditioned courts in Dubai, the history of padel is still being written — and the UAE is now one of its most exciting chapters.
Be Part of the Story
With hundreds of courts on your doorstep, there has never been a better time to pick up a racket. Start with the basics and let the wall rallies do the rest.
- Beginners can start with the affordable NB Enebe Point Light (AED 240).
- Find your perfect match with our RacketBot quiz.
- Explore rackets, balls and more across the Padel Point store.
Join the millions worldwide who have fallen for padel — and write your own chapter on a court near you.
