Sports Events in Saudi Arabia

Sports Events in the Kingdom are the sporting events and occasions hosted or organized by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for various sports. Saudi sports began in the early period of the Kingdom's establishment. Football, being the leading mass and popular game globally, was the first to be regulated by establishing the Saudi Arabian Football Federation as a private sports entity with an independent legal personality. The federation was founded according to the Kingdom's laws in 1956 for an indefinite period and carries out its duties and responsibilities as stipulated by the relevant statutes and laws.

The Kingdom organized a number of prominent sports events, among the most significant is the FIFA Confederations Cup, an idea that originated from the Kingdom. It proposed organizing a tournament that would bring together the holders of the continental championships. The inaugural event was held in 1992 under the name 'King Fahd Cup,' and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation sponsored its first two tournaments.

The Kingdom renewed the organization of the King Fahd Cup (Intercontinental Championship) in 1995 for the second consecutive time, with the participation of six teams, led by the Kingdom as the host. The 1997 tournament was recognized by the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and came under its supervision, thereby becoming an official tournament with a fixed date in FIFA's calendar. Its name was changed to the FIFA Confederations Cup, making it the second most important tournament after the FIFA World Cup.

The Brazilian national team holds the most titles in the tournament, having won four titles in 1997, 2005, 2009, and 2013. Following Brazil, the French national team has won the title twice, in 2001 and 2003.

The Kingdom continues its interest in sports by organizing many events, and this has gained momentum with Saudi Vision 2030, which emphasizes encouraging all types of sports to attain sporting excellence on both local and global levels and to reach advanced world rankings in several of them. For this reason, the increase in events and the launch of initiatives have come to achieve comprehensive development of the sports sector in the Kingdom, through hosting and organizing global sporting events.

The year 2017 witnessed one of the major international events with the organization of the King Salman World Rapid Championship at the Apex Convention Center in Riyadh City, for the first time in the Kingdom, with the participation of 236 male and female players representing seventy countries, and supervised by forty international referees.

The Kingdom demonstrated its success in organizing large sports events by hosting the Riyadh International Marathon in 2018, which was the largest in the world in terms of the prizes offered, with SAR2 million allocated for the winners' prizes. The race was organized into three different categories: the first was a professional race covering a distance of twenty-one km, the second a race of eight km, and the last race was four km long, designated for the beginners' category.

In the same year, the Kingdom organized the Overwatch Saudi Regional Tournament, a tournament organized by the Saudi Arabian Federation for Electronic and Intellectual Sports. It is a regional championship and the first of its kind in terms of size in the Kingdom, with forty-six players from nine countries participating in the competition online.

From the Saudi Dakar Rally event in al-Ula. (Saudipedia)

Sports events continue to be organized across various sports, and in 2018, the Kingdom hosted the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) Super Middleweight Final for the Muhammad Ali Trophy. The event took place in the sports hall of King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, where British boxer Callum Smith was crowned the World Super Champion after winning the final match against his compatriot George Groves.

Following that, the Kingdom organized in October 2018 the Saudi-Egyptian Super Cup final at the King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh, featuring a match between al-Hilal Club and the Egyptian Zamalek Club. This was followed by the Super Clasico quadrangular football tournament in the cities of Riyadh and Jeddah, with the participation of the national teams of Brazil, Argentina, the Kingdom, and Iraq. The Brazilian national team was crowned the champion in the final match held at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah.

As part of sports diversity and implementing the objectives of the Saudi Vision 2030 programs, Riyadh hosted the second Kingdom Baloot Championship in October 2018. The event saw the participation of 20,480 players, who competed across 256 tables in the Green Hall. The tournament proceedings were officiated by 292 referees.

The Kingdom once again rose to the forefront of global sports events through football by organizing the 2019 Italian Super Cup final, which featured Italy's Juventus and AC Milan competing at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah. The event was attended by more than sixty thousand spectators, along with numerous international media outlets.

The 2022 Italian Super Cup final match was organized between AC Milan and Inter Milan teams in the Kingdom's Riyadh City on January 18, 2023, with a large audience attendance exceeding fifty thousand fans. Inter Milan won the title, as part of the international events included in the second edition of the Diriyah Season 2022.

The Kingdom expanded its organization of sporting events featuring world-renowned athletes across various sports. In the Sharqiah Season of March 2019, eight events were organized with the participation of top athletes chosen from around the world. Twelve athletes were invited and selected to compete in six sports: inline skating, BMX freestyle, cycling, skateboarding, parkour, and water skiing, in addition to featuring the Red Bull Air Show.

In a new development for the Kingdom's experience in organizing large international events, the 2020 Saudi Dakar Rally was organized for the first time at the level of the Asian continent. Held in the Kingdom in January 2020, the rally's route extended to nine thousand km. About 330 vehicles representing sixty nationalities participated in four different categories: motorbikes, quad bikes, trucks, and cars.

The Kingdom hosted the '2021 Saudi Dakar Rally' for the second consecutive year, from January 3 to 15, 2021, in coordination with the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation. For the first time, competitors were required to wear airbag jackets, and additional restrictions on engine modifications were imposed on competitors in the 'motorbike category.' Time penalties were imposed on violators. The competitors crossed ten Saudi cities during twelve different stages, covering a distance of up to 7,600 km.

The third edition of the 2022 Saudi Dakar Rally, the forty-fourth in the history of the prestigious global desert rally, attracted more than 650 participants representing seventy nationalities from around the world, making it the largest edition in terms of participation in the rally's history. The race included 430 vehicles in various racing categories and an additional 148 vehicles in the 'Dakar Classic' category.

One of the races of the Saudi Cup for equestrianism. (Saudi Cup Media Center)

The diversity of sports events organized by the Kingdom continued, with the organization of a global equestrian championship named 'The Saudi Cup', held at the King Abdulaziz Equestrian Field in al-Janadriyah, Riyadh City, in February 2020, featuring fourteen horses.

The third edition of the Saudi Cup 2022, the world's richest with a prize pool of USD35.1 million, started on February 25, 2022, at the King Abdulaziz Equestrian Field in Riyadh. In the Saudi Cup 2022, sixteen countries participated, and the total number of horses competing in all rounds reached 240. .

The Kingdom brought together athletes from around the world in another sport by hosting the World Club's Championship 'Super Globe' in August 2019. FC Barcelona from Spain was crowned the champion of the tournament in its thirteenth edition, after defeating the German team THW Kiel in the final match held at the Green Hall in Dammam.

The World Club Handball Championship 'Super Globe,' in its fourteenth edition, kicked off in 2021, with the Kingdom hosting for the second consecutive time. The tournament featured ten clubs representing continents around the world, in addition to al-Noor and al-Wehda clubs, representing the Kingdom in the championship, alongside FC Barcelona, the Spanish club and title holder of the previous 2019 edition. Additionally, Dammam hosted the 2022 edition, with participation from twelve clubs, including clubs from Egypt and the Gulf.

The Kingdom hosted three handball championships for national teams at the continental level, qualifying for the World Cup, in 1998, 2012, and 2021. Additionally, the Kingdom hosted the first Asian club-level championship in 2009 in Jeddah, the second in 2011 in Dammam, and again in 2021 in Jeddah.

The Kingdom has succeeded in diversifying the activities and events it hosts, organizing about nine local and international golf tournaments each year. The first Saudi International championship for golf professionals was launched in 2019 at the Royal Greens in King Abdullah Economic City in Rabigh, featuring 132 players including the top three ranked players in the world. It was hosted for the fifth time in 2023, in addition to hosting the Aramco Saudi Ladies International and the Aramco Team Series from 2020 until 2023.

In 2019, the Yacht and Water Sports Club and Marina hosted the first round of the Kingdom's Sports Fishing Tournament, held for the first time in the Kingdom. Fifty professional fishermen participated, launching from the Yacht and Water Sports Club in the Economic City, as part of the developmental efforts to diversify sports activities and enhance the Kingdom's stature both locally and internationally.

The sporting events diversified, and the organization included several cities in the Kingdom. Al-Ula City witnessed the first polo championship in the desert in the Kingdom in January 2020. The championship for this sport, professionally played in sixteen countries around the world, was organized under the supervision of the Saudi Polo Federation, becoming one of the main events within the Winter at Tantora season, with the participation of some of the world's elite polo players.

On February 11, 2022, the second edition of the Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo tournament kicked off, organized by the Saudi Polo Federation and the Royal Commission for AlUla at al-Fursan Equestrian Village field. The event featured twelve players from various countries representing four teams, sponsored by Saudia, al-Ula, Richard Mille, and Bentley.

In the field of equestrian sports, for which the Kingdom is renowned, the Hail International Endurance Race was organized in January 2020. The race took place in the equestrian field of Hail over a distance of one hundred km, divided into four stages: the first stage was thirty km, the second stage thirty km, the third stage twenty km, and the fourth stage twenty km. During the race, new equestrian regulations were applied for the first time.

Not far from this race, the international 'Titan' Desert bike race was organized for the first time through the middle of the Aja mountain range in Hail in 2020. It included four stages with the participation of 150 cyclists from around the world, who raced over a distance of 366 km.

The diversity in organizing sports events included the 'Gamers Without Borders' Championship in 2020, the world's largest esports tournament organized by the Kingdom, with prize money reaching USD10 million. The proceeds were donated to seven global charitable organizations to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. The event saw the participation of thousands of professional and amateur players, as well as several sports and entertainment celebrities.

The Saudi Esports Federation announced the hosting of the third edition of 'Gamers Without Borders' in 2022, with a total of USD10 million in charitable prizes, fully donated to support the efforts of charitable entities in relief and humanitarian work.

One of the new events organized by the Kingdom was the '24 Hours of Le Mans' race in 2020, in its unprecedented virtual edition sponsored by the Saudi Federation for Electronic and Intellectual Sports. The event featured two hundred competitors from both real and virtual motorsports, representing fifty teams, including current world stars, former 'Formula 1' champions, 'IndyCar' champions, and 'Le Mans' race champions.

The Kingdom gained further global momentum by organizing the Hail International Baja Rally events in December 2020, which were held over two rounds, concluding the 2020 season of the FIA World Bajas Cup.

The Hail International Rally 2021 was launched under the supervision and organization of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation. The rally featured twenty-nine cars in the 'FIA' international classification, four cars in the 'T1 ' category with 2022 specifications, and twenty-seven cars in the national classification. Additionally, there were twenty-nine participants in the motorbike and quad bike categories, along with three drivers in the truck category.

In 2020, the Kingdom hosted the finals of the FIBA 3x3 World Tour in Jeddah Governorate, with the participation of twelve teams from various countries around the world, supported by the Quality of Life Program.

In 2021, Jeddah Governorate hosted the finals of the FIBA 3x3 World Tour 2024, with the participation of twelve teams representing the elite teams in the world. The event was organized by the Ministry of Sport in coordination with the Saudi Basketball Federation and supervised by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).42 43

In August of the same year, on a local level, the Kingdom organized its first women's netball championship in the Kingdom, 'Saudi Netball,' onboard the 'MSC Bellissima', a cruise ship owned by MSC. 'Saudi Netball' is one of the sixteen federations and committees previously announced by the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee in May 2021. It is a sport practiced by over twenty million female players in more than eighty countries.

Confirming the Kingdom's readiness to organize various sports games and events, the Saudi Sports for All Federation, in collaboration with the Saudi Cricket Federation, launched the Softball Cricket Championship in 2021, with the participation of more than 14,800 players across major cities in the Kingdom including Riyadh, Dammam, al-Jubayl, al-Madinah al-Munawwarah, Jeddah, Abha, and Yanbu.

This championship followed the organization of the National Cricket Championship in 2021, which was the largest cricket tournament in the history of the Kingdom, spanning eleven cities in the Kingdom. This was part of the Kingdom's efforts to promote a healthy and active lifestyle within the Quality of Life Program, one of the Saudi Vision 2030 programs.

Saudi sports marked a new presence in September 2021 by hosting the first Global Goals World Cup tournament in Diriyah, the Kingdom. The tournament featured twenty-six women's teams whose primary goal was to support social and environmental sustainability through sports to make a positive impact on society.

Confirming the Kingdom's leadership on the international stage, Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman attended the Formula 1 stc Saudi Arabian Grand Prix events on December 5, 2021, held at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

The Jeddah Corniche Formula 1 circuit is considered the longest street circuit in the world, with a length of 6.175 km², and the fastest circuit in Formula 1, with an average speed reaching 252.8 km per hour during a single lap.

Formula 1 returned for the second time to the Jeddah Circuit in March 2022, with the 2022 Formula 1 stc Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Twenty drivers representing ten teams participated in the race, competing for both the Drivers' and Constructors' titles.

On October 4, 2023, the Kingdom announced its intention to bid for hosting the 2034 World Cup. The Saudi Arabian Football Federation aims to leverage all resources and capabilities to provide an unprecedented experience for football fans at this global event. This bid is supported by the endorsement of 130 football federations around the world.

Crown Prince and Prime Minister His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud confirmed that the Kingdom's intention to host the 2034 World Cup reflects the comprehensive development it has achieved across all sectors and levels. This development has positioned the Kingdom as a leading center and an international venue for hosting major and significant global events across various fields, supported by its economic assets and rich cultural and historical heritage.

On July 29, 2024, the Crown Prince endorsed the Kingdom's bid file for hosting the 2034 World Cup after concluding the details and requirements for the file in preparation for submitting it to FIFA in Paris, France, by the official Saudi delegation.

On the same day, the Kingdom has officially submitted its bid file in Paris, the French capital during a ceremony held by FIFA. The submission was made by an official delegation led by the Minister of Sport and Chairman of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee Prince Abdulaziz Bin Turki, the President of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation Yasser al-Mishal, and included two children from the regional training centers of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation. The official announcement of the host country for the 2034 World Cup will be on December 11, 2024.