On 27 July 2026, the Rafa Nadal Academy confirmed that Southeast Asia's first Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre will open on Lombok. It is one of the strongest international signals yet that the island is moving from "Bali's quiet neighbour" to a destination in its own right. Here is what was announced, and what it could mean if you are looking at land in South Lombok.
What was announced
The tennis centre will sit inside Samara Lombok, a master-planned resort of roughly 150 hectares on the island's south coast, about 25 minutes from Lombok International Airport. According to the Academy, the facility will include four tennis courts and four padel courts and is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2028.
Samara Lombok is also set to become the first Destination by Hyatt in Southeast Asia, following a franchise agreement announced by Hyatt in May 2025. The first phase plans three boutique hotels and 150 villas, part of a longer-term vision of around 500 villas. The developer has also announced investment from Westgrove, a family office, to support construction.
Lombok joins an international network that already includes the Academy's flagship in Mallorca and tennis centres in Mexico, Greece, Hong Kong, Spain, the Dominican Republic, Kuwait and Egypt. Maribel Nadal, the Academy's deputy general manager, described Lombok as a destination with "enormous international potential".
Why it matters for Lombok
1. A global brand puts Lombok on the map
The Nadal name reaches families, sports fans and affluent travellers who may never have considered Lombok. Paired with Hyatt's global distribution and loyalty programme, it gives South Lombok a level of international visibility that until recently only Bali enjoyed.
2. Sports tourism is becoming a real pillar
The island already hosts the MotoGP Grand Prix of Indonesia at Mandalika, draws surfers to Gerupuk, Ekas and Desert Point, and attracts trekkers to Mount Rinjani. A branded tennis and padel centre adds a year-round, family-friendly sport to that mix.
3. Longer stays and higher-spending visitors
Tennis programmes and academy camps typically mean week-long stays, return visits and whole families travelling together. That profile supports demand for quality villas, restaurants and services around the south coast.
What it could mean for land values
Big anchor projects rarely move prices overnight, but they tend to shape where demand concentrates over the following years. When evaluating land in South Lombok, buyers are likely to pay closer attention to:
- Drive time to the airport, Kuta Mandalika and the new resort cluster.
- Road access and utilities. Plots with legal road access, electricity and water will stay the easiest to develop and resell.
- Tourism zoning. Land zoned for tourism accommodation is essential if you plan rental villas.
- Ocean views and elevation. Hillside plots with a protected view remain the most sought-after segment.
Opening is planned for 2028, so there is still a window before the centre and hotels are operating. Construction timelines can shift, however, and no project guarantees capital growth.
How to approach a purchase near the resort
- Verify the title. Check the SHM or HGB certificate at the BPN land office before paying any deposit.
- Check zoning (PKKPR). Confirm what you are allowed to build.
- Choose the right structure. Leasehold, PT PMA or Hak Pakai. See our foreigner's guide to buying land in Lombok.
- Work with a licensed PPAT notary and an independent lawyer.
Browse land for sale in South Lombok on Talora, or compare regions in our guide to the best areas to buy land in Lombok.
