Verstappen out to silence McLaren in the battle of Bahrain
McLaren's Lando Norris holds a wafer-thin advantage over four-time world champion Max Verstappen going into this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix.
Investigation
Big money as Saudi Arabia makes foray into cricket with IPL auction
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has backed extravagant sports investments -- set to culminate in Saudi Arabia hosting the football...
Ex-Tottenham boss Nuno sacked by Saudi club Al Ittihad
Nuno was under pressure because of their struggles in the Saudi Pro League, and the club brought down the axe...
- Nuno, who enjoyed a successful spell as Wolverhampton Wanderers boss from 2017-2021, had been in charge of Jeddah-based Al Ittihad since July last year
- Assistant coach Hassan Khalifa will take temporary charge while the club finalize a replacement for Nuno, Al Ittihad said in a statement posted on X
Arts & Culture
Saudi set to host FIFA World Cup 2034 in either summer or winter
Despite summer temperatures touching 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit) in the major cities, Saudi Arabian Football Federation president Yasser al-Misehal...
- Misehal also indicated that Saudi Arabia intends to push ahead and host the tournament alone, without asking its neighbors to hold any games.
- That would make Saudi the first country to organize the newly expanded, 48-team World Cup on its own, after the joint hostings in 2026 and 2030.
Business
Saudi Arabia emerges as only bidder for 2034 World Cup
The Saudi bid comes one year after neighboring Qatar hosted the first World Cup in the Middle East, where the...
- The full bids for 2030 and 2034 will be evaluated by FIFA and put to a vote at two separate congress meetings
- The kingdom made the bid for the 2034 event known on October 4, as soon as the procedure had been launched
Business
Al Hilal ranks among world’s 50 wealthiest clubs
European clubs owned by Arabs continue to dominate the rankings, with Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed-owned Manchester City standing at the...
- Paris Saint-Germain, owned by Qatar Sports Investments, came in third with a market value of US$1.14 billion
- Newcastle United, owned by Public Investment Fund, is at 11th spot with a market value of $687.57 million
Arts & Culture
Educational institutions are shaping UAE’s tomorrow
"Dubai's schools attract students of various nationalities seeking holistic education. These schools emphasize well-rounded education, with a sports culture enhancing...
- DSC Chairman Sheikh Mansoor emphasizes the role of sports in education for shaping the UAE's future.
- The vitality and joy imbued in young minds through sports hone innate talents and intellects, he adds.
Arts & Culture
Esports scores big for Saudi economy, culture & jobs
The Kingdom, with its passion for sports and tech, is set to reshape the competitive gaming landscape by hosting the...
- The Kingdom, with its passion for sports and tech, is set to reshape the competitive gaming landscape by hosting the world's premier Electronic Sports World Cup from 2024.
- By 2030, Esports is set to add US$13.3bn to Saudi GDP, with 67% of Saudis into electronic gaming, potentially creating 39,000 jobs, and producing 30 world-class games.
Geostrategy
No suspension for Mazraoui over Gaza post, says Bayern Munich
Berlin, Germany - Bayern Munich on Friday said defender Noussair Mazraoui would not be suspended, after a probe into the Moroccan...
- In the wake of the deadly attack on Israel by Hamas, Mazraoui had put up several pro-Palestinian posts.
- The club's chief executive Jan-Christian Dreesen said Mazraoui "credibly assured us he rejects terror and war" .
Economy
Indonesia backs Saudi Arabia’s 2034 World Cup bid
Last week, Indonesian FA president Erick Thohir had said the country was in talks with Australia for a possible joint 2034...
- "Indonesia supports Saudi Arabia's bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2034," Indonesian FA president Erick Thohir said in a statement on Wednesday
- Thohir said last week that his scrapped joint bid proposal with Australia could also have involved games in New Zealand, Malaysia, and Singapore
Geostrategy
Middle East emerges as a global esports powerhouse
The Middle Eastern region, led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, is swiftly becoming a global esports hub, driven by...
- The Middle Eastern region, led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, is swiftly becoming a global esports hub, driven by its vast gamer community and strategic investments
- The region's esports growth transcends gaming, with stakeholders from elite teams to media firms collaboratively shaping the region's live entertainment future
Women’s squad seeks its share of Saudi football boom
A FIFA+ documentary released last month tracks how the national team has seized on new freedoms, contrasting the hostility its...
- The Saudi women squad only formed two years ago and entered the FIFA rankings in March, at 171st place
- The eager Saudi players are standard-bearers for broader changes afoot in Saudi Arabia
Verstappen out to silence McLaren in the battle of Bahrain
McLaren's Lando Norris holds a wafer-thin advantage over four-time world champion Max Verstappen going into this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix.
Investigation
Company News
Latest News
Ronaldo’s Al Nassr dumped out of Asian Champions League quarters
Beaten 1-0 in the first leg in the United Arab Emirates, Ronaldo took the quarter-final to penalties when he held...
‘Number one’ Joshua defeats Ngannou with brutal second-round KO
Joshua, a former unified WBO, WBA and IBF heavyweight champion, went into the fight on the back of three successive...
Saudi football body suspends, fines Ronaldo over gesture
Sports newspaper Al-Riyadiya reported Ronaldo as saying he respected all football clubs and that the gesture expressed "strength and victory"...
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Business
Extreme E races for electric SUVs 2024 kick off in Jeddah
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - Organized by the Saudi Arabian Cycling Federation under the supervision of the Ministry of Sport, the...
- The fourth annual "Extreme E" all-electric sport-utility vehicle (SUV) off-road racing series will witness the participation of eight two-racer teams
- The first edition of this global competition was held in AlUla in 2021 and the 2022 and 2023 editions were held in NEOM
Arts & Culture
Qatar eyes second successive Asian Cup in final against Jordan
Doha, Qatar - An Asian Cup full of late goals and surprises reaches a climax on Saturday when hosts and holders...
- With much of the crowd behind them and as reigning champions, Qatar will be expected to beat a Jordan side ranked 29 places below them by FIFA
- In striker Akram Afif, Qatar have one of the players of the tournament and he scored a glorious goal against Iran to take his tally to five in six games
Paris Olympics’ organizers worry heatwave can spell trouble for games
A new study presenting "climate simulations to anticipate worst-case heatwaves during the Paris 2024 Olympics" has focused minds after it...
- Organizers of the Paris Olympics, which will run from July 26 to August 11, say they are "fully aware" of the climate-related risks to the Games
- Operational teams have run simulations looking at the consequences of shifting some outdoor events to earlier or later start times to avoid the heat