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Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings Plc., maker of the Aston Martin brand of cars, is tying up with Lucid Group Inc. on electric vehicle technology, uniting the British carmaker and relative automotive newcomer both backed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, according to Bloomberg.
Saudi Arabia is set to host the Jeddah Grand Prix this weekend, which takes place at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on Sunday, March 19.
This week saw another “first” for Saudi women and women’s sports in the Kingdom as the Saudi Arabia sent their first female team to an International Tennis Federation (ITF) event, Reuters reports.
The 966 Episode 75! The hosts discuss the recently-concluded LEAP conference and exhibition in Riyadh and how Saudi Arabia is increasingly becoming a leader in the space in the region. They also discuss how Riyadh is, in general, becoming a more attractive destination for global events, a concept once difficult to imagine before the Kingdom […]
Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal secured a 3-2 win over South American champions Flamengo on Tuesday that sent them to the Club World Cup final – the first time a Saudi team has reached the championship match in this tournament.
Saudi Arabia registered more than 18 million international arrivals in the first nine months of 2022, higher than any other Arab nation during that timeframe, according to reports.
Saudi Arabia explored a bid to acquire Formula 1 racing in early 2022, according to a Bloomberg report.
In episode 72 of The 966, the Riyadh Metro project, the game-changing public transportation project in Saudi Arabia’s capital, “will be opened soon.” A discussion on the hot real estate market in Riyadh and across Saudi Arabia. Then, to kick off the program’s “Yallah!” segment, the hosts spend some time talking about the Dakar Rally, […]
Saudi Arabia has launched an investment fund specifically to support the culture, tourism, entertainment and sports industries, according to Reuters, citing the state news agency SPA.
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman issued a royal decree that defines who can claim Saudi citizenship, allowing the children of Saudi women who are married to expat men to now apply for citizenship after the age of 18.
At the heart of Qiddiya’s vision is the Gaming and Esports District. This world-first mixed-use gaming and esports hub is set to become a global magnet for gaming enthusiasts. It will host major events like the Esports World Cup and house the regional headquarters of leading video game companies. The district will include four dedicated esports venues, including one with the largest indoor LED screen in any esports arena and another among the top three largest esports venues globally.
Stadium specialist Populous has released new concept images of its state-of-the-art esports arena at Qiddiya in Saudi Arabia. The Populous-designed esports arena is part of Qiddiya City’s gaming and esports district. It will offer the largest combined amount of video screens of any esports arena in the world, as well as 4D haptic seats.
The 5,155-seat arena will be able to adapt to multiple experiences and events. Populous has carried out sightline studies to provide the best views in the main auditorium.
"Is there a revolution? Yeah, there’s a revolution like when people went to Vegas." He added, "When Vegas opened, people asked who on Earth is going to go to the middle of the desert, but this is a game-changer. Saudi is the destination for big-time boxing." And that seems to be coming true as a "trickle has turned into a torrent" in terms of the number of fights held in Saudi Arabia.
At the dawn of 2023, the specter of Saudi Arabia’s growing influence on pro golf — and sports in general — served not only as a moral conundrum for players and their fans, but also, some argued, as an existential threat to the multibillion-dollar professional-sports industry itself. Twelve months later, it’s a different conversation, now virtually devoid of concern about the supposed menace of “sportswashing” and the line between “right” and “wrong,” and more fixed on just how rich the Saudis might make all these athletes before they’re done investing.
Populous designs feature a 5,155-seat venue with one of the world’s largest combined total areas of video screens, plus a ‘digital chandelier’ above the main seating auditorium.
Saudi Arabia has been crystal clear in its intentions to buy into as many pro sports outfits as possible — but sealing lucrative deals isn’t as easy as it looks. Several British media outlets recently reported that the 2024 WTA Finals will be held in the Middle East nation as part of a major deal surrounding the season-ending event of tennis’ top women’s tour. However, the WTA tells Reuters that no decision has been made about a venue or location for next November’s tournament. “We are in discussions with various groups surrounding the 2024 WTA Finals and beyond,” a WTA spokesperson said.
Saudi Arabia has invested around £5bn in sports since 2021, when the country's Crown Prince made it a key part of his strategy to diversify the economy, with a host of major sporting events brought to the kingdom, including high-profile boxing and Formula 1.
The country's Public Investment Fund has also launched the breakaway LIV golf series, taken control of four Saudi Pro League clubs and purchased Newcastle United.
Saudi Arabia's sports minister says claims of 'sportswashing' against the country are "very shallow", as he defended its right to host the men's football World Cup.
Speaking to the BBC in Jeddah, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal said: "A lot of the people that accuse us of that haven't been to Saudi, or seen what we are doing."
Critics say unprecedented spending on sport has been used to improve the oil-producing kingdom's reputation over its human rights record and its environmental impact.
But the Saudi government insists the investment is boosting the economy, opening it up to tourism and inspiring people to be more active.
First, sportswashing can be a lazy rebuttal to the kingdom’s investment in sports and, in general, the Middle East. The definition of “sportswashing,” which is the practice of using sports to improve reputation, can be rather expansive in practice. Yes, we can all agree Qatar hosted the 2022 World Cup to elevate the reputation of the country. So did Brazil with the 2016 Summer Olympics and South Africa with the 2010 World Cup and so will countries in the future. Saudi officials clearly know that sports can bring good attention to a country. (The Ministry of Culture has a nice selfie on Instagram from NBA great Lebron James’s visit during September this year…yes Lebron James was in Saudi Arabia.) That said, it is not the sole reason for investing in sports, but it is obviously low-hanging fruit for politicians, because it will always contain some truth.
Saudi Arabia was named as the lone bidder for the 2034 World Cup on Tuesday, a major success that follows a string of high-profile sports acquisitions. The conservative Gulf monarchy, often criticised over its human rights record, is attempting to burnish its image and attract tourists and investment as it tries to diversify its economy away from oil. Here are some of the moves that have turned Saudi Arabia into a major player in sports
