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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

How Saudi Arabia can monetise the Ronaldo effect

Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Al Nassr could lead to a financial windfall for his new club and Saudi Arabia, football finance expert Neil Joyce told Reuters, as the Portugal international gears up for his first game in the country since the deal was announced. Ronaldo was named captain of Riyadh ST XI — a team […]

Qatar and Abu Dhabi to host F1 races in October and November

Formula One will have 23 races this season, still a record and one more than last year, with the sport facing a four-week gap in April after deciding not to replace the cancelled Chinese Grand Prix. The race in Shanghai, originally scheduled for April 16 as the fourth of 24 rounds, was axed last month […]

Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé went head to head in the World Cup final as PSG players

Qatar’s next big match: a Premier League club to call its own

Qatar’s reported plan to buy a Premier League football club is the natural next step for the host of the 2022 World Cup, sports business analysts have told AGBI. Less than a month after Argentina lifted the Fifa trophy at the Lusail stadium, Qatar Sports Investment is said to be turning its attentions to English […]

Ronaldo Saudi

Ronaldo will be first of many Saudi superstar signings

Cristiano Ronaldo was officially revealed as an Al Nassr player on Tuesday night amid a cacophony of noise and a sea of yellow and blue. And as fans inside the 25,000-seater Mrsool Park chanted his name, Ben Gordon, a sports diplomacy expert at Dentons Global Advisors, said that Saudis should get set for more superstar […]

Increased revenue is likely to come from Al Nassr shirt sales

Ronaldo’s signing goes beyond money for Saudi Arabia

Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Al Nassr “is less about money and more about the Saudi Arabian geopolitical economy”, says a leading sports academic. The 37-year-old forward agreed to join the Saudi Pro League last week in a deal that will run until 2025 and is expected to earn him over $200 million a year. It […]

Ronaldo will wear his iconic No 7 shirt at Al Nassr

Cristiano Ronaldo joins Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr

Cristiano Ronaldo has signed for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia in a deal that is expected to earn him over $200 million a year. The Portuguese striker, 37, agreed a contract yesterday that runs until 2025. He was a free agent after leaving Manchester United by mutual agreement in November following an interview he gave […]

Brand Qatar’s legacy once the last World Cup fan has gone home

Strolling down Lusail Boulevard on a warm December evening, foreign fans who have lingered on after the World Cup to enjoy some winter sun pause to chat with local vloggers about their lasting impressions of Qatar.  “Impressed” is a word they use frequently. “Hospitality” and “generosity” are mentioned often. One pedestrian describes with delight how […]

Lionel Messi accepts the World Cup trophy from the emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Fifa president Gianni Infantino after Argentina defeated France on penalties at the Lusail Stadium

Qatar 2022: The making of a sports nation

From Formula 1 to the 2030 Asian games, Qatar’s hosting of a series of major events before and after the World Cup has reinforced its role in the global sporting diary.  Having built eight stadiums for the 2022 tournament, the Gulf state now boasts an infrastructure that will make it a go-to location for many […]

Qatar World Cup

Qatar 2022 more about long-term legacy than short-term gains

Once the last ball has been kicked, the final whistle blown and the gold trophy held aloft in Lusail Stadium on December 18, the world’s attention will move on from Qatar.  But the tournament’s economic legacy will take longer to emerge. The history of World Cups and Olympic Games is littered with unmet promises and […]

Dubai’s Emirates renews sponsorship deal with AC Milan

Dubai-based Emirates has renewed its sponsorship deal with AC Milan, extending a partnership with the Italian football club that has spanned over 15 years. The airline’s “Fly Better” logo will continue to feature on the club’s jerseys, Emirates said in a statement.  In addition, the airline’s branding will appear on youth jerseys across all AC […]

Private jet

Private jet demand to Doha soars despite World Cup price hikes

Private jet operators have reported a massive surge in demand for flights to Doha during the World Cup, despite the rise in operating costs caused by the high number of aircraft flying in and out of the Qatari capital. “So far, the World Cup has been an incredibly exciting — albeit intensely busy time — […]

Real Madrid, last season's LaLiga champions, are one of the biggest draws in football

LaLiga nets esports deal as Spain’s football league heads Mena’s way

Spain’s main football league, LaLiga, has signed a 15-year deal with Galaxy Racer, one of the world’s largest largest esports, gaming and lifestyle organisations, that they estimate will generate more than $3.16 billion. The home of Barcelona and Real Madrid say they expect the tie-up with the Dubai-based company to transform the league’s presence in […]

Qatar-owned football club PSG eyes sale of minority stake

Qatar-owned football club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) is looking to sell a minority stake, chairman and CEO Nasser Al-Khelaifi told CNN. “I think it’s great for the club, and it is proved that we are doing a fantastic job in the club. I mean, we bought it for around 70 million… so is it [a] good investment?” […]

World Cup logo on Corniche Promenade

World Cup has instant impact on Qatari retail and tourism

The World Cup has had an immediate impact on private sector activity in Qatar, according to new figures. The Fifa tournament began on November 20 and the latest Purchasing Managers’ Index report, from Qatar Financial Centre, says the country’s wholesale, retail and service providers reported a rapid expansion in the second half of the month.  […]

Person, Man, Adult

How Qatar is handling the world’s football fans

More than one million people are expected to visit Qatar during the World Cup and the authorities are hoping that is the start of a new tourism boom. The opportunity for a country to present itself to a global audience of billions does not come around often. As host of the tournament, Qatar certainly finds […]

Person, Man, Adult

Messi takes on Ronaldo in ‘cryptoverse’ World Cup 2022

The market for fan tokens, a volatile cocktail of crypto and sport, is heating up in the desert of Qatar. Interest in this niche breed of cryptocurrencies, typically linked to sports teams like Barcelona or Brazil, has been charged up by the soccer World Cup which began on November 20. Average daily trading volumes for […]

Urban, Night Life, City

Gulf states to capitalise on World Cup tourism ‘halo’ effect

Qatar’s Gulf neighbours have more than a passing interest in the World Cup. When the tournament ends Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Oman will be looking to capture the ripple effect resulting from the surge in tourists to the region.  For the GCC’s tourism sectors, the World Cup is viewed as a catalyst for a […]

Qatar Manchester United

Manchester United owners mull selling Premier League icon

Manchester United’s US owners have begun looking at options for the 20-times English soccer champions, including a potential sale or new investment in stadium and infrastructure redevelopment. “As we seek to continue building on the club’s history of success, the board has authorised a thorough evaluation of strategic alternatives,” said Avram and Joel Glazer in […]