Analysis Business of Sport Morocco must now tackle cost of World Cup win Winning the right to co-host the World Cup in 2030 will have Morocco walking an economic tightrope, experts say. Morocco will become only the second African nation to host the event, albeit alongside five other countries spread across three continents. In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the World Cup, the 2030 edition will be […] October 6, 2023
Business of Sport Saudi Arabia reveals 2034 football World Cup bid Saudi Arabia has officially thrown its hat into the ring to become the host nation of the 2034 Fifa World Cup. It had been thought the kingdom was going to launch a joint bid with Greece and Egypt to co-host the 2030 tournament, but these rumours proved to be unfounded. The 2030 event, a celebration […] October 5, 2023
Business of Sport Talks with PIF and DP World progressing says PGA Tour PGA Tour said its planned merger with Saudi-backed LIV Golf and DP World Tour has garnered unsolicited interest from investors as it continues to finalise an agreement with the Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and the DP World Tour. The PGA said that while it did not solicit additional investment interest, it has a […] September 28, 2023
Business of Sport Baseball stars line up to invest in Dubai league Baseball United, the first professional baseball league focused on the Middle East and Indian subcontinent, has amassed a roster of investors before the Dubai league’s launch in November. Between them the investors boast a combined 222 Major League Baseball (MLB) seasons, 70 All-Star games and 14 World Series Championships. The line-up of former MLB stars […] September 18, 2023
Business of Sport Saudi-backed martial arts league aims for $1bn business The Middle East arm of the Professional Fighters League will be a billion-dollar entity within the next decade, according to its founder. Mixed martial arts (MMA) organisation PFL Middle East is set to launch in the second quarter of 2024, spurred by a reported $100 million cash injection from Saudi Arabia’s SRJ Sports Investments. It […] September 18, 2023
Business of Sport British-Iranian businessman sells stake in Everton FC British-Iranian businessman Farhad Moshiri has sold his stake in English Premier League club Everton to Miami investment fund 777 Partners. It has signed a deal to acquire the former accountant’s 94 percent of the club’s shares. Monaco-based Moshiri invested in Everton in 2016 before taking a majority stake two years later. However, his time in […] September 15, 2023
Opinion Business of Sport The players are in place – now Saudi’s Pro League needs fans If the Pro League is to achieve its commercial ambitions, its clubs need sustained spectator engagement – aka, passionate and loyal fans September 13, 2023
Business of Sport Saudi clubs’ $1bn outlay beats 4 of the ‘big 5’ leagues in Europe Saudi Pro League clubs splashed out almost $1 billion in the transfer window in a bid to boost the domestic competition by attracting some of the world’s leading players, according to analysis from Deloitte published on Friday. The outlay of $957 million in the Saudi window, which closed on September 7, exceeded the spending of […] September 10, 2023
Opinion Business of Sport The LIV-PGA merger could transform golf for the better The sport can attract new fans with innovative technology, infrastructure and a festival-like atmosphere September 8, 2023
Tourism Qatar exceeds 2022 tourism figures in just eight months The number of tourists in Qatar this year has exceeded the figure for the whole of 2022, with officials saying that hosting the Fifa World Cup has put the Gulf state on the map. Qatar Tourism data revealed that the country has welcomed more than 2.5 million visitors as of the last week in August. […] September 5, 2023
Business of Sport Saudi Arabia pins down $100m MMA investment Saudi Arabia’s SRJ Sports Investments has acquired a minority stake in mixed martial arts (MMA) organisation the Professional Fighters League, reported to be worth $100 million. Founded in 2018, the PFL is second behind the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in terms of its global popularity. PFL Mena will begin in 2024 having launched in Europe […] August 30, 2023
Analysis Business of Sport Saudi football sells TV rights in hope of net profit Saudi Arabia’s professional football league has sold broadcast rights to 12 networks across 130 countries for coverage of the 2023-24 season, following a spending spree on players that has captured global attention. But wary of previous experience with China, broadcasters will be following closely to see if a global appetite exists for Saudi Arabia. “The […] August 27, 2023
Business of Sport Qatar buys rival padel tour after legal wrangling State-owned Qatar Sports Investments has agreed to buy the World Padel Tour and will launch a unified global circuit for the fast-growing racquet sport next year. QSI created a breakaway padel competition in early 2022, and the Qatari takeover of the sport mirrors Saudi Arabia’s controversial multimillion-dollar entry into men’s professional golf. Padel uses the […] August 25, 2023
Business of Sport Saudi millions ‘creating two-tier system’ for football agents Saudi Arabia’s football investment spree is tempting top-flight players to its teams, but is also creating a two-tier system among agents, industry observers have warned. Brazilian superstar Neymar’s arrival in Saudi Arabia this week boosted the coffers of his former employer Paris Saint Germain to the tune of a reported $110 million. The latest big-money […] August 18, 2023
Opinion Business of Sport When Saudi Arabia caught the football bug Forget the sneering Western media, it's the fans that matter August 18, 2023
Leisure & Hospitality Neymar to play for Saudi’s Al Hilal after PSG agree deal Brazil forward Neymar is headed for Saudi Arabia after Pro League side Al Hilal agreed a two-year deal with Paris St Germain, Saudi state media reported. There was no immediate comment from the Ligue 1 champions, owned by Qatar Sports Investments, but French newspaper L’Equipe said the deal could net 31-year-old Neymar €160 million ($175 […] August 15, 2023
Business of Sport Riyadh Air and Atlético Madrid sign sponsorship deal Saudi Arabia’s new national carrier Riyadh Air has signed a sponsorship deal with Spanish football club Atlético Madrid, giving the airline a major advertising boost ahead of its planned launch of operations in 2025. Riyadh Air said it will be the main sponsor and official airline partner of the club as part of a multiyear […] August 10, 2023
Opinion Business of Sport Saudi Arabia: The making of a sports nation The kingdom has crafted a genuine vision aimed at building a sports ecosystem August 7, 2023
EXCLUSIVE Business of Sport Baseball ready to strike home run in the Middle East When the opening pitch is thrown at Dubai International Stadium in November it will signal the official start of the first ever professional baseball league in the Middle East and South Asia. And the power broker behind the ambitious project hopes the 25,000-seater venue will be at least a quarter full to mark the inaugural […] August 6, 2023
Business of Sport Newcastle winger Saint-Maximin joins Saudi club Newcastle United winger Allan Saint-Maximin has joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli on a three-year deal. “We pick the best, and he’s one of them,” Al-Ahli said on social media messaging platform X. The transfer fee for the 26-year-old was not disclosed. The winger will team up with former Premier League players Roberto Firmino, Edouard […] July 31, 2023
Business of Sport Green light for Manchester City stadium upgrade Manchester City FC has won planning permission to expand and upgrade its stadium, meaning the $384 million project can get under way. The English footbal club is majority-owned by Abu Dhabi United Group. It unveiled proposals earlier this year to increase the size of the Etihad Stadium’s North Stand by 7,700 people, to accommodate a […] July 28, 2023
Aviation Emirates builds Saudi profile as Riyadh Air nears take-off Emirates has signed up as the main sponsor and official airline of the King Salman Club Cup 2023. The deal will give the Dubai-based airline extensive brand visibility in stadiums and marketing for the football tournament, which is being held as a new Saudi carrier, Riyadh Air, gears up for launch. Riyadh Air, wholly owned […] July 17, 2023
