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Business of Sport

Sports business news from the Middle East. All the important stories, exclusive interviews, plus authoritative opinion and analysis

Colombian player Jhon Duran, aged 21, is moving from UK Premier League club Aston Villa to Saudi club Al Nassr

Saudi football spending takes youthful turn as big names depart

It says much for the evolution of football in Saudi Arabia that the main talking points of the winter transfer-window were of individuals leaving the league rather than multi-million dollar signings. The majority of headlines in the last week of January were devoted to the departures of Brazilian forward Neymar, effectively having his contract ripped […]

The Saudi facilities management market is expected to grow at a 10 percent compound annual growth rate, expanding to about $56 billion by 2032

AlMajal AlArabi considers listing on Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul

Saudi Arabia’s AlMajal AlArabi Group (MAG) is considering an initial public offering on the Tadawul main market and has appointed Riyad Capital as an adviser, people familiar with the plans told AGBI. The Riyadh-based facilities management and construction company is exploring a share sale as Saudi Arabia’s infrastructure and services sectors expands, driven by multi-billion-dollar […]

The Ford Center at the Star includes a 12,000-seat venue, and Qiddiya's potential MMA venue is equally ambitious

Saudi Arabia in talks to host MMA facility at Qiddiya

Saudi Arabia has been identified as a potential host for a multi-use mixed martial arts facility akin to the Ford Center at The Star in the US, the head of MMA organisation the Professional Fighters League (PFL) has said. The Star is a partnership between the city of Frisco in Texas and the Dallas Cowboys […]

American professional basketball player LeBron James arrives at the Los Angeles Premiere Of Peacock's 'Shooting Stars' held at the Regency Village Theatre on May 31, 2023 in Westwood, Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency) Credit: Image Press Agency/Alamy Live News

NBA’s LeBron James joins PIF-backed electric raceboat series

Lebron James, the NBA basketball star, has signed up as team owner in the UIM E1 World Championship, the all-electric raceboat series. James was named as owner of Team AlUla, named after the ancient oasis city in Saudi Arabia, ahead of the start of the 2025 season on Saturday in Jeddah. The championship, now in […]

PIF Dazn Diletta Leotta

PIF close to $1bn stake deal in sports network Dazn

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is close to agreeing a deal to acquire a 10 percent stake in the UK-based global sports network Dazn.  The deal, which has been under discussion for more than a year, is said to be worth at least $1 billion, which would value the broadcaster at $10 billion, the New […]

Blair Kinghorn of Scotland scores a try against Australia at Murrayfield. The sides will compete in rugby's new Nations Championship, to be sponsored by Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways signs $97m deal to sponsor new rugby tournament

Qatar Airways has agreed a $97 million deal to sponsor the new World Rugby Nations Championship. The eight-year deal will cover the qualifying matches and finals for the first four editions of the rugby union tournament from 2026 to 2034. The agreement is the biggest title sponsorship in international rugby, according to The Guardian. The […]

Crystal Palace Saudi

Stake in Premier League team sought by Saudi brothers

A US-Saudi group has reportedly signed an exclusivity agreement to buy 45 percent of the English Premier League club Crystal Palace.  A consortium funded by the Saudi brothers Mansoor and Haider Syed, which includes US sports and business executives, has agreed to buy the stake in the club owned by the American company Eagle Football, […]

People celebrate after Saudi Arabia is awarded the 2034 World Cup. As well as new stadiums, the country is preparing 134 training centres

World Cup contractors may have to register in Saudi

Foreign companies hoping to capitalise on Saudi Arabia’s SAR100 billion ($26.6 billion) World Cup preparations must be registered in the kingdom, according to the chief executive of a leading Saudi-based investment company. “Don’t waste time offering services from abroad,” said Mohammed AlQahtani, CEO at Saudi Arabia Holding Company, a private equity firm in Riyadh, in […]

Sheffield United Prince Abdullah bin Mosaad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud

Prince sells English football club to US consortium

Saudi Arabia’s United World Group, led by Prince Abdullah bin Mosaad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, has sold its interest in the English Championship side Sheffield United. The club, currently sitting at the top of the table heading into the busy Christmas schedule of fixtures, has been taken over by the American consortium COH Sports for […]

Manchester City celebrate after winning the Premier League. The club has posted profits of £73.8m

Manchester City reports record revenues

Despite a recent slump in form on the pitch, the Abu Dhabi-backed English football team Manchester City is thriving commercially, its annual report revealed this week. The club has announced record-breaking revenues of £715 million ($903 million) for the past year, with profits of £73.8 million. Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said: “Our focus remains on […]

Emirates Sports Group CEO Vladimir Burdun. The company's initial expansion phase will focus on the UAE

UAE sports hotel brand plans regional expansion

A sports hotel brand developed in the UAE intends to expand in the Gulf region, its CEO has said.  Emirates Sports Hotel and Apartments is a 192-bed facility in Dubai that is specifically designed to cater to the needs of athletes and sportspeople.  Large rooms, health and fitness-conscious meals, and the availability of yoga mats […]

Saudi Arabia's sports minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, celebrates as Fifa confirms Saudi Arabia as the 2034 World Cup host

Saudi Arabia wins 2034 Fifa World Cup bid

Fifa, the world football governing body, has officially named Saudi Arabia as the host nation for the 2034 World Cup.  The kingdom submitted its bid to host the event in July under the slogan “Growing. Together” after Fifa invited bids from countries in Asia and Oceania last year. The only country in contention, Australia, did […]

Anthony Kim at the LIV Golf Jeddah event. The PIF's PGA investment is happening as talks continue to merge the PGA and LIV tours

PIF close to $1.5bn stake in PGA commercial arm

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is close to agreeing a deal to acquire a minority stake in PGA Tour Enterprises, the tour’s commercial arm. The sovereign wealth fund is aiming to acquire a stake of around 6 percent as part of the deal, Bloomberg reported.  The investment will amount to $1.5 billion, the Wall Street […]

The new brands, including a women's only club called FitnGlam, will be integrated into Arada’s existing wellness division

UAE’s Arada strengthens gym holding

Arada has finalised the purchase of three UAE-based gym brands, bringing its total number of premises operated across the Gulf state to 15. The real estate developer said that the women-only FitnGlam, boutique exercise hub The Platform Studios and recently launched health club Fitcode make its fitness and wellness division, Wellfit, worth more than AED1 […]

Saudi sport sponsorship

Saudi Arabia expands global reach with 900 sports deals

Saudi Arabia’s vast number of sports sponsorship deals, now in excess of 900, are part of the kingdom’s strategy to diversify away from oil but their long-term success will not be known for some time to come, experts have said. Play the Game, a publicly funded sports ethics institute in Denmark, compiled a list of […]

Saudi world cup risk Fifa president Gianni Infantino, right, with the Saudi Arabian minister for sport, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, and the president of the Saudi football federation, Yasser Al Misehal

Fifa praises ‘impressive’ Saudi World Cup 2034 bid

The vast construction projects proposed by Saudi Arabia for the 2034 Fifa World Cup are impressive, but present a medium risk of not being completed in time, football’s governing body Fifa has warned. In a 110-page bid evaluation document, Fifa’s inspection team said Saudi Arabia must invest “significant effort and time” to fulfill its ambitious […]

Rio Ferdinand, pictured at the Qatar Grand Prix, said in a statement that Koora Break 'innovates through fan engagement'

Rio Ferdinand invests in Saudi sports platform

Rio Ferdinand, the former England and Manchester United footballer, has invested in a Saudi sports platform.  The Ferdinand Group (TFG), a sports and entertainment investment company owned by the ex player, acquired a minority stake in Koora Break, described as the fastest-growing football app in the Middle East and North Africa. No specific financial terms […]

People, Person, Accessories

QIA buys minority stake in Audi Formula 1 team

The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) has agreed to acquire a “significant minority” stake in Audi’s Formula 1 team, becoming a long-term investor and strategic partner. This sovereign wealth fund’s investment will provide a substantial capital injection to support infrastructure and team buildout, aligning with QIA’s strategy of focusing on investments with long-term growth potential. Audi […]

LVA PAG golf dispute

PIF in talks to unite world golf tournaments

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is engaged in two separate series of talks to unify the main world golf tournaments, after it disrupted the sport by setting up its upstart LIV Golf tour.  The controversial launch of the LIV tour thrust Saudi Arabia and its $925 billion sovereign wealth fund into a multi-billion industry […]