RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) announced unprecedented funding and support for women’s football clubs.
This initiative will help in growing women’s football leagues and will ensure its sustainability.
SAFF will provide financial help to Saudi Premier League and Women’s First Division clubs. SAFF will allocate US$13 million (SAR 49.9 million) to women’s football in the country.
Only those clubs which have a SAFF membership and Nafes license to participate in women’s tournaments will be eligible for the funding.
Vice President of SAFF Lamia Bahaian said, “The announcement is a monumental step for SAFF in our dedication to developing and sustaining a thriving women’s football presence in the Kingdom.”
She said, “We aim to inspire young girls that a career in football is not only feasible for them but promising. Women and girls are central to everything we do in sport, ensuring that we provide equal access to facilities, opportunities, and careers both on and off the pitch.”
She added, “This is possible thanks to the support received from SAFF’s management.”
Bahaian said, “A key motivation behind this program has stemmed from witnessing a 30 percent growth in women’s football clubs and players across Saudi Arabia over the past year.”
Mirroring much of the transformation happening across all areas in Saudi Arabia, the strong women’s football movement embodies SAFF’s long-term strategy and commitment to grow interest and inspire participation at all levels of women’s football.
The Kingdom has made unprecedented investments in grassroots initiatives, player development, coaching, refereeing, and competitions, fueling much of the progress seen today.
In alignment with the Saudi Vision 2023, women’s sports in the Kingdom have made remarkable progress, with over 190,000 females now actively participating in sports each week.
Presently, the Premier and First Division leagues feature 30+ clubs and 600+ players representing over 20 nationalities.
On an amateur level, almost 50,000 schoolgirls took part in the inaugural schools’ league across 4,700 teams from all corners of Saudi Arabia.
There are over 49 female referees registered and officiating league matches, with the first Saudi female referee – Anoud Al Asmari – breaking into FIFA’s prestigious licensed list.
