Kigali, 14 August 2023, Rwanda Press – Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame on Monday joined Toronto Raptors President Masai Ujiri for the groundbreaking of Zaria Court, an urban development project with a focus on community, hospitality, sports, and culture.
Zaria Court Kigali, which was launched in Remera, Gasabo District in the capital Kigali, includes a vibrant retail area which will adapt to the needs of the neighbourhood and visitors.
Shipping containers will be repurposed into shops and other businesses, creating an environmentally sustainable retail space that serves as an incubation hub, targeted at women-owned businesses and young local entrepreneurs.
Construction of the complex is expected to end in November 2024, with operations beginning in February 2025.
The Zaria Court project is being developed as part of Kigali Sports City and it is expected to create over 500 jobs in hospitality and tourism. The project is the first Zaria Court on the continent, and is centred around an urban hospitality hub.
It repurposes the former RBC headquarters building in Remera, which will feature an 80-room boutique hotel, restaurants, a rooftop lounge, a gym, wellness spaces, co-working spaces and a podcast studio.
At the heart of the site is a multi-purpose court, which will serve as a space for sporting events, festivals, performances, markets and other events.
Toronto Raptors President and vice-chair and Giants of Africa co-founder Masai Ujiri is in Rwanda to celebrate 20th anniversary of the Giants of Africa.
Both President Kagame and Masai Ujiri presided over the opening ceremony of the Giants of Africa Youth Basketball Festival which attracted over 200 youth from 16 African countries.
