Former Toronto Raptors president and renowned basketball figure Masai Ujiri has unveiled Zaria Court, a $26 million sports-themed hotel and entertainment complex in Kigali, Rwanda.
The facility, launched in July 2025 with the support of the Rwandan government, sits on land provided by the state and was inaugurated in the presence of President Paul Kagame. Notable guests included Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote.
Zaria Court combines luxury hospitality with world-class sports and leisure amenities. It features an 80-room hotel, a 2,000-seat indoor arena for basketball games and concerts, two five-a-side football pitches, a fully equipped gym and wellness center, a sports bar, a children’s play park, outdoor basketball and football courts, retail shops, co-working spaces, and podcasting studios.
Backed by private equity firm Helios Investment Partners, Ujiri’s Zaria Group plans to replicate the Kigali model across the continent. Upcoming projects are targeting major African cities including Johannesburg, Lagos, Nairobi, Accra, and Abidjan—addressing the shortage of modern sports and entertainment venues in Africa.
Rwanda was a strategic starting point for Ujiri’s vision. The country has set an ambitious goal to boost annual sports tourism revenue from Rwf 1 billion in 2024/25 to Rwf 30 billion by 2029, alongside plans to construct over 500 new sports facilities nationwide. Tourism already contributed $1.3 billion to Rwanda’s economy in 2024, with sports events such as the Basketball Africa League and a possible Formula 1 Grand Prix expected to fuel further growth.
Ujiri, also the founder of the Giants of Africa foundation, said the project reflects a shift from philanthropy toward a business model that unites sports, entertainment, and hospitality. He noted that many African cities lack arenas and performance spaces, and Zaria Court aims to fill that gap—creating opportunities for athletes, artists, and communities to thrive.
