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  • Saudi Arabia lights up after being named as host for FIFA World Cup 2034

    Fireworks illuminated the skies of Riyadh, Jeddah, Alkhobar, Abha, NEOM, Al-Qassim, and Jubail at 8:34 p.m. on Wednesday, after the official announcement from an online ceremony that was broadcast at a Riyadh event attended by Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal and other officials. The dazzling displays reflected the spirit of unity and excitement surrounding the country’s historic achievement. In celebration,  dynamic drone shows are to captivate audiences in Riyadh, Jeddah, Alkhobar, and Abha. The football-themed festivities, which run until Dec. 14, invite citizens and residents to showcase their national pride by wearing football jerseys and sharing their moments on social media using the hashtag #Saudi2034.

  • What does hosting the 2034 World Cup mean for Saudi Arabia?

    For a historically football-obsessed nation, it represents arguably the pinnacle achievement of Saudi Arabia’s changing physical and social landscape since the introduction of the country’s wide-reaching Vision 2030 strategy. Now all eyes are on 2034. The Kingdom’s love of football knows no bounds. It drives conversations and friendships, with 80 percent of Saudis engaged with the beautiful game either through playing or watching. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Sport has done an admirable job of diversifying Saudi sporting interests in recent years, but there is still no escaping the fact that football remains the nation’s undisputed No. 1 pastime.

  • Saudi Arabia to host FIFA World Cup 2034: When and where will it be staged?

    Securing the 2034 FIFA World Cup was a central part of the kingdom’s “Vision 2030” economic strategy, spearheaded by the de facto ruler Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In recent years, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has allowed the country to rapidly grow its influence in the global sporting sector, resulting in several large-scale professional events already taking place inside the country: LIV Golf Tour, Formula One, Saudi Pro League football, Combat Sports (Boxing and MMA), ATP and WTA Tennis, and the famous Dakar motorsports rally event.

  • Eric Trump reveals rendering of Trump Tower project in Saudi Arabia

    Trump, executive vice president of the Trump Organization, shared the video rendering in a post on X of what marks the Trump Organization’s first major project in Saudi Arabia. "Incredibly proud to officially launch a project that has been underway for many months, Trump Tower - Jeddah!" he wrote. "Thank you to our partners @dar_global - This will be our 5th project together and among the most luxurious buildings anywhere in the world!" In the video, the rendering of the potential future high-rise residential tower is emblazoned with the Trump name.

  • 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia puts lives at risk: rights groups

    Awarding the tournament to Saudi Arabia "despite the well-known and severe risks to residents, migrant workers and visiting fans alike, marks a moment of great danger," Amnesty and organisations including Human Rights Watch, the Gulf Centre for Human Rights and the Football Supporters Europe group said in a statement. "As global and regional human rights organisations, trade unions, fans groups and organisations representing migrant workers, many of us have long highlighted the severe risks posed by Saudi Arabia’s hosting of mega-sporting events," the groups said. "By awarding the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia without meaningful protections, FIFA has today decided both to ignore our warnings and discard its own human rights policies."

  • Saudi Arabia confirmed as 2034 World Cup host. The next question: Winter, summer or neither?

    World Cups have traditionally been held in the Northern Hemisphere's summer, even when staged beneath the equator in South America or South Africa. The entire rhythm of global soccer settled in around this tradition. Most top-flight leagues begin their seasons in August, finish in or around May, and then break for high-profile international tournaments. But Saudi Arabia's climate, like Qatar's, complicates matters. In the Gulf, summer temperatures regularly exceed 100 degrees. Such heat is often considered unsafe for soccer — and undesirable for the millions of fans that World Cups attract. FIFA, citing those dangers, moved the 2022 Qatar World Cup from its typical summer window to November and December. Many assume Infantino and the current FIFA administration will push for a similar move in 2034.

  • 2034 World Cup: Why Saudi Arabia is hosting, explained

    When the bidding process for 2030 and 2034 was announced in Oct 2023, the FIFA Council adopted a so-called "principle of confederation rotation" to ensure that five of its six confederations -- Europe (UEFA), South America (CONMEBOL), Asia (AFC), Africa (CAF) and Oceania (OFC) -- would be considered as potential hosts. Concacaf, the North and Central American confederation, was omitted due to the 2026 Men's World Cup being staged in the United States, Mexico and Canada. With Qatar hosting in 2022, Asia would ordinarily have had to wait until 2042 to host another World Cup under the terms of confederation rotation, but the decision to stage the 2030 tournament across three confederations (UEFA, CAF and CONMEBOL) suddenly pushed Oceania and Asia to the front of the line in 2034.

  • Saudi Arabian low-fare carrier opens new Egypt route

    Saudi Arabia’s low-fare carrier, flynas, has inaugurated a new route connecting Medina Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz Airport (MED) and Giza Airport (SPX) in Egypt. The new service will operate three times a week, offering travelers budget travel to Cairo, which is served by Giza. The airline says the route supports the goals of the Saudi national Civil Aviation Strategy, which aims to significantly increase passenger traffic and tourism to the Kingdom by 2030. The airline now connects five Saudi cities to various Egyptian destinations, including Cairo, Sohag, Sharm El-Sheikh, Hurghada, and El Alamein.

  • Saudi Arabia Launches Its First-Ever Cruise Ship in Jeddah

    Saudi Arabia has officially launched its first-ever cruise ship, AROYA, at the Jeddah Islamic Port, marking a significant step in the Kingdom's growing cruise tourism sector. The new ship, introduced by Cruise Saudi, is set to boost the nation’s efforts to enhance its maritime tourism offerings and attract international travelers. The AROYA cruise ship features a state-of-the-art design with 19 decks and a total of 1,678 cabins and suites. The vessel can accommodate up to 3,362 passengers, making it one of the largest in the region.

  • Saudi Arabia and international arbitration: modern and ambitious

    The growth of new centers of international arbitration in areas of the world not historically associated with this form of cross-border dispute resolution has been a key trend in the evolution of international arbitration over the last 20-30 years. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has emerged as a country to watch in an increasingly competitive global marketplace for arbitration work. This article discusses the key features of the 2023 Arbitration Rules of the Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration (SCCA).