81 percent of Saudi population attends cultural events, activities in 2024: GASTAT
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Nearly 81.6 percent of Saudi individuals visited at least one cultural event or activity in 2024, according...
Arts & Culture
FIFA defers decision on Palestinian request to suspend Israel
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in a statement: "The FIFA Council has implemented due diligence on this very sensitive matter...
Arts & Culture
Saudi Arabian Football Federation launches funding program for women clubs
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) announced unprecedented funding and support for women’s football clubs.This initiative...
- SAFF will provide financial help to Saudi Premier League and Women's First Division clubs and will allocate US$13 million for the purpose.
- Only those clubs which have a SAFF membership and Nafes license to participate in women’s tournaments will be eligible for the funding.
Business
Saudi Al Hilal signs Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Al Hilal club announced on Sunday the signing of Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly to join...
- Koulibaly scored two goals in 32 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea after joining them from Napoli last July.
- He is the second player moving to Al Hilal from the English Premier League after Portugal midfielder Ruben Neves signed from Wolves
Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal signs Wolves captain Neves for reported $60m
Neves, who arrived at Wolves from Porto, had one year on his contract left at Molineux. He joins in the...
- "From the 'Wolves' to the biggest team in Asia," Al-Hilal announced on social media after the player signed a three-season deal in Paris
- Neves leaves Wolves after six seasons for "a club record fee", the Premier League side announced, reported to be around 55 million euros
French football star Kante joins Saudi champions
A dynamic and industrious midfielder Kante, won the World Cup with France in 2018, said said he was "very excited...
- The 32-year-old becomes the latest in a line of European stars choosing to ply their trade in the desert kingdom, which is making big-money moves across elite sport
- Kante's contract with the London club was set to expire this month and he has signed a three-year deal with Al Ittihad, the Jeddah-based team said in a statement
Business
Drink with Messi for $42,000: Chinese police warn over scams
Beijing, China -- Dinner, drinks and a selfie with Lionel Messi sounds like every football fan's dream, but Chinese police have...
- The Argentine legend's presence in China for a friendly against Australia in the capital on Thursday has drawn scammers and ticket-scalpers desperate to c on Messi mania.
- For 50 million yuan, Messi will appear on your shopping livestream to extol the virtues of your product, another unauthorized advertisement claims.
After missing out on Messi, Saudis give Benzema gala welcome
Fireworks and flame-throwers greeted Benzema, wearing their black and yellow kit with the number nine, at Al-Ittihad's 60,000-seater stadium in...
- Karim Benzema joins Portugal idol Cristiano Ronaldo as the latest superstar to join the Saudi Pro League, which has a hit-list of high-profile targets
- Banners welcoming Benzema adorned the city, and according to press reports, 60,000 tickets at the symbolic price of nine riyals ($2.50) sold out within five hours
Business
Argentina football star Messi joining MLS side Inter Miami after PSG exit
The romance of a Barcelona return and prospect of eye-watering riches in Saudi Arabia fell by the wayside as Messi...
- MLS and Inter Miami confirmed Messi's announcement on social media, although the American league noted "work remains to finalise a formal agreement"
- In their first game since Messi's announcement on Wednesday, Miami defeated Alabama non-league side Birmingham Legion 1-0 in the US Open Cup to reach the semi-finals
Karim Benzema signs for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad: club source
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Real Madrid's Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema has signed for Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad for three years starting...
- The announcement comes days after Real Madrid announced that the 35-year-old was leaving the club after 14 seasons
- Benzema is in line to join Cristiano Ronaldo in the Gulf kingdom after the Portuguese five-time world player of the year moved to Al Nassr
Economy
Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal to sign football star Messi in mega-deal
Al Hilal football club officials are in Paris to seal a mega-deal with Lionel Messi, who is leaving Qatar-owned Paris-Saint...
- According to Saudi media reports, French striker Karim Benzema, who is departing Real Madrid, has signed with Jeddah-based Al-Ittihad
- The kingdom, the world's biggest oil exporter, has poured hundreds of million into sports deals including Ronald's signing and Formula One
‘Benzema and Messi to Saudi Arabia?’: Saudi minister’s comment fuels speculation
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia's Minister of Sports, Abdelaziz Al-Faisal, has reportedly added fuel to the speculation surrounding Lionel...
- Messi has been offered an astronomical €600 million per season deal by Al-Hilal to join their team this summer, according to reports from Marca
- Benzema is said to have received a staggering €400 million offer from an undisclosed Saudi Arabian club, as the nation aims to bolster its bid for the 2030 FIFA World Cup
81 percent of Saudi population attends cultural events, activities in 2024: GASTAT
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Nearly 81.6 percent of Saudi individuals visited at least one cultural event or activity in 2024, according...
Arts & Culture
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Saudi football dominates Gulf sports scene this year
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Turkish club send Israeli player to Maccabi Tel Aviv after Gaza controversy
ISTANBUL, TURKEY - Turkish first division club Basaksekir on Thursday sent Israeli midfielder Eden Karzev on loan to Maccabi Tel Aviv following...
Geostrategy
Afif helps Qatar exorcise World Cup demons at Asian Cup
Doha, Qatar - Asian Cup hosts and holders Qatar have been on a mission to banish the painful memory of their...
Arts & Culture
Saudi Arabia unveils 45,000-seat multi-use stadium in Qiddiya City
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - The Board of Directors of the Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC) announced on Monday the launch of...
Business
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Arts & Culture
Ronaldo effect? Saudi spending spree fuels Asian Cup hopes
Saudi Pro League sides have shelled out to lure big-name players while Saudi Arabia is set to host the 2034...
- Mancini left more than a dozen of the World Cup squad out of his Asian Cup roster, although injuries have also played a part.
- Saudi Pro League clubs' spending on players over the summer was topped only by the English Premier League.
Geostrategy
Palestine’s Asian Cup team seeks to ‘put smile’ on their compatriots
Doha, Qatar - The Palestinian team hope to reach the knockout stage of the Asian Cup for the first time to...
- "We as players are part of the Palestinian people and live through the same suffering as the people," captain Battat said on the evening of their opening match.
- Palestine have been at the Asian Cup twice previously, and are yet to win a game, but their coach Makram Daboub said they hope to spring a surprise.
Arts & Culture
Son set to light up Asian Cup as Qatar takes center stage again
The 24 teams spanning Australia to Palestine will battle for regional glory over the next four weeks, culminating in the...
- The 18th edition of the Asian Cup was supposed to have been held last summer in China but was moved to World Cup host Qatar because of China's Covid-19 rules
- Qatar will mostly use stadiums that staged World Cup matches, a notable absentee being Stadium 974, the temporary arena made partly of shipping containers