Saudi Arabia allocates $453m for 2024–2025 sports initiatives

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia has unveiled an SR1.7 billion ($453 million) investment in three sports initiatives for the 2024–2025 season, aimed at boosting club development and raising the Kingdom’s profile in the sector. This comes as part of the Kingdom’s Clubs Support Strategy, which focuses on developing five key initiatives – governance, various sports, and direct support, as well as fan attendance and digital transformation.

In a post on X, the Ministry of Sports confirmed that the allocations include SR1.04 billion in direct support for clubs in the Saudi Pro League, as well as those in the first and second divisions Saudi Arabia has made significant progress in sports tourism since the launch of Vision 2030 in 2016, hosting around 80 athletic events over the past four years and drawing 2.5 million visitors.



Major events such as the Formula One race in Jeddah have brought substantial economic benefits. The 2023 edition, for instance, generated over 20,000 job opportunities and attracted attendees from 160 different countries. In its post, the ministry also stated that Pro League teams will receive SR47 million annually for public clubs and SR45 million for private organizations.

Additionally, each public or private club in the first division league will receive SR6 million annually. Each public club in the second division league will receive SR2.787 million per year, while private clubs will get SR2.

7 million each. It added that a budget of SR503 million was allocated for the various sports initiatives. It also stated that SR128 million has been allocated for the fan attendance initiative in the Saudi Pro League, with support contingent upon achieving performance indicators.

The Sports Ministry pointed out that its governance initiative aims to develop clubs administratively by applying standards and indicators that ensure their stability, growth, and goal achievement. The Kingdom’s ongoing sports privatization undertaking has attracted considerable interest from local and international investors, with 25 companies actively pursuing opportunities in six of the 14 sports clubs proposed for privatization in the first phase. At the country’s recent Budget Forum 25, Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal highlighted the economic potential of the privatization effort, estimating investments could reach SR500 million.

Prince Abdulaziz also underlined the rising international profile of the Saudi Pro League, with broadcasts now reaching over 160 countries and a 33 percent increase in revenue this year, driven by growing participation and interest in the nation’s sports sector. This expansion is part of Saudi Vision 2030 reforms aimed at diversifying the economy. To support investment, the privatization process has been streamlined by launching a platform that licenses academies and clubs, making it easier for individuals and businesses to invest.

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