In a bid to diversify their economies, Middle Eastern nations are turning to the sports industry, marked by significant investments in global tournaments and infrastructure.

Ronaldo played a key role in Nassr's opener just after the hour, the Portuguese instigating the move that led to Abdulrahman Ghareeb’s blocked shot cannoning off Persepolis full-back Esmaeilifar and nestling in the net. Ten minutes later, Nassr left-back Mohammed Qassem broke down the left and thumped his shot high past Beiranvand...

Runners-up in last year’s Champions League, Hilal were fortunate not to lose their Group B opener having gone behind on 52 minutes at King Fahd International Stadium to Toma Tabatadze’s expert finish. Navbahor, the 2022 Uzbekistan Super League runners-up, were competing in the Champions League for the first time. However, Hilal defender Ali Al...

Abu Dhabi, UAE - Abu Dhabi Sports Council discussed business developments and plans for developing the sports sector here, local media reports said.This also includes the continuation of supportive initiatives and programs to enhance the success of the sports system at the local and global levels.Mohammed Thani Al Rumaithi, Vice...

Eyes have been on Saudi clubs' transfer outlays which have rivaled those of the top European sides, but Turkish teams have been signing big names under the radar.

Spending by Saudi Arabian football clubs in the transfer window just closed was second only to that by teams in the English Premier League, said separate reports by FIFA and Deloitte. The sport's world governing body said Saudi Pro League teams had spent $875.4 million on new players from June...

NEW YORK, US -  Cancun will host the WTA Finals October 29-November 5, the WTA announced on Thursday. The Mexican resort would stage the season ending tournament after reports that Saudi Arabia was front-runner to land the event.The WTA said in a statement that officials "weighed a number of competitive bids...

Jabeur, who will now face China's Zheng Qinwen in the last 16 on Monday, said her punishing training regimen in Tunisia had helped prepare her for the demands of the tournament. "It was super hot in Tunisia, super humid," Jabeur said. "Honestly, I was fighting to just finish the practice....

LONDON, UK - Liverpool have rejected a blockbuster £150 million ($190 million) offer for Mohamed Salah from Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad, according to reports on FridayEgypt star Salah has been linked with a move to the Gulf State for several weeks and it is believed a verbal offer was made to...

Media rights are a huge earner for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), one of the richest governing bodies in global sport owing to the game's immense and fanatical local fanbase. India plays 88 international matches over the rights period, translating to roughly $8.2 million per game...

Combining elements of everything from boxing to judo and Muay Thai, mixed martial arts (MMA) had a limited following in Saudi Arabia just a decade ago, but that started to change when the kingdom hosted the popular regional Desert Force competition in 2014.

AlUla, Saudi Arabia -- AlUla Desert Blaze, a unique running challenge, which kicked off on Saturday and saw participation of nearly 200 male and female runners from 39 countries, has been hailed as the most arduous competition in the Arabian Gulf region.The participants faced the toughest challenges amid scorching summer heat, enduring temperatures reaching up...

Johannesburg, South Africa--The 2023 CAF Super Cup match between Al Ahly of Egypt and USM Alger of Algeria will be staged in the Saudi Arabian city of Taif on September 15, the organizers announced on Saturday.Ahly qualified for the annual match by winning the Champions League and USM by capturing the...

Gabri Veiga, one of Spain's most promising young players, signed for Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli from Celta Vigo in a move greeted with disquiet in Spain. Clubs in the Gulf state have signed several of football's top veteran stars this summer on huge deals, including Ballon d'Or holder Karim Benzema...

LIVERPOOL, UK - Liverpool manager dismissed suggestions on Friday that Mohamed Salah could become the latest star name to depart European football for Saudi Arabia.According to reports, Al-Ittihad are trying to lure the Egyptian to the Gulf state with a huge salary offer that would rival the deals that enticed Cristiano...

The Saudi Pro League side came from behind to triumph 4-2 in the play-off at Mrsool Park, with Brazilian Anderson Talisca scoring twice and Croatia international Marcelo Brozovic rounding off the win. The result means Nassr, runners-up domestically last season, move into the group phase, which begins next month.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia--The Saudi Esports Federation will launch the "Next World Forum" on August 30 and 31 in Riyadh, at the conclusion of the activities of the largest event for games and electronic sports in the world, "Gamers8: The Land of Heroes."The forum will discuss promising opportunities in the fast-growing...

Asif Khan finished off the job with an unbeaten 48 as he smacked New Zealand skipper Tim Southee for three boundaries in the 16th over to seal a famous victory with 26 balls to spare. Mark Chapman's 63 was the standout contribution in New Zealand's 142-8.

Idlib, Syria - Thousands of fans in Syria's last opposition bastion have packed into a stadium for the frenzied final of a football cup -- an escape valve amid years of conflict and misery."I'm really happy today," said Mohammed al-Zeer, 28, from the northwestern city of Idlib. "Between the war and...

The United States exploded off the blocks, opening up a 13-point gap on the Greeks six minutes into the first quarter. Despite questionable turnovers during patches of the game, the USA were a class apart as they extended their perfect record in World Cup tune-ups to 4-0 in games played...

Dubai, UAE-- The UAE's General Sports Authority (GSA) and the International Skating Union (ISU) and International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) have discussed opportunities for cooperation and partnership to boost winter sports, such as skating and ice hockey in the UAE.In this regard, Sheikh Suhail bin Butti Al Maktoum, Executive Director...

Paris, France - Brazil forward Neymar has signed for Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal from Paris Saint-Germain, the clubs announced on Tuesday, joining Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema as the latest big name lured to the Kingdom."I am here in Saudi Arabia, I am Hilali," Neymar said in a video posted to Al...

Many fans who had travelled to Doha to support the Atlas Lions last year found themselves deprived of free tickets promised to them by the Moroccan Football Federation. The tickets were sold on the black market at four or five times their face value, according to accounts gathered at the...

Taif, Saudi Arabia-- Cristiano Ronaldo led his team to victory as Al-Nassr FC won the 2023 King Salman Club Cup for the first time in its history, defeating Al-Hilal 2-1 on Saturday eveningThe team lifted the title after extra time despite playing for more than an hour with just 10...

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia--Brazilian forward and former Liverpool star Roberto Firmino hit a hat-trick on his Saudi Pro League debut on Friday as Al- Ahli defeated Al-Hazem 3-1.The 31-year-old skipper found the net in the sixth, 10th and 72nd minutes for the promoted team who also fielded fellow new signings Riyad Mahrez,...

The world's biggest oil exporter has thrown hundreds of millions at sports deals including Ronaldo's capture, Formula One in Jeddah and the lucrative LIV Golf tour, drawing frequent claims it is "sportswashing" its human rights record. It is all part of grand plans by the de facto ruler, Crown Prince...

The investments are expected to localize partnerships.

The twice African footballer of the year is the latest high profile player to join the cash-rich Saudi league. Both clubs announced the transfer involving the former Liverpool star which German media estimated at around 30 million euros on a three-year deal with an annual salary for Mane of 40...

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said on Saturday that the Saudi Pro League had "completely changed the market" and he expects more and more high-profile players to move there.City winger Riyad Mahrez this week became just the latest big name to move to Saudi football, following in...

LONDON, UK - Allan Saint-Maximin has confirmed he is to leave Newcastle before an expected move to the cash-rich Saudi Pro League.The French winger, heavily linked with a £30 million ($38.5 million) move to Al-Ahli, posted a farewell message on his Instagram account.In it he professes his love for the Premier...

London, United Kingdom - Manchester City forward Riyad Mahrez has left the treble winners to join Saudi side Al-Ahli, the two clubs announced on Friday.The 32-year-old Algerian winger joined Pep Guardiola's team in 2018 from Leicester, winning 11 major trophies at the club."The wait is over: Riyad is real," the Saudi...

Paris, France - Italy and Turkey have asked to jointly host the 2032 European Championship, UEFA announced on Friday.European football's governing body said it had "received a request" from the Italian (FIGC) and Turkish (TFF) football federations "to merge their individual bids into one joint bid".In 2021, UEFA initiated a bidding...

Liverpool, United Kingdom - Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson completed his move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq on Thursday, becoming the latest big-name player to be lured to the Gulf state.The England midfielder, who posted a farewell message on Wednesday, has ended a 12-year stay at Anfield, during which he won...

Osaka, Japan - Paris Saint-Germain have given Saudi club Al Hilal permission to speak to Kylian Mbappe after tabling a world record 300-million-euro ($333 million) bid, a source close to the negotiations told AFP on Monday.The Riyadh-based club has made a formal offer by letter, the source said, but such a...

LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND - Cristiano Ronaldo's Saudi club Al-Nassr are banned from registering new players until unpaid debts are settled, FIFA said on Thursday.The team "is currently prevented from registering new players due to outstanding debts", a FIFA spokesperson told AFP, without revealing the amount of the debts.World football's governing body did...

Dubai, UAE - The International Federation for Falconry Sports and Racing (IFFSR) announced it will host the inaugural editions of the IFFSR Cup for international teams and the International Forum for Falconry Sports and Racing in December 2023.Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Federation Sheikh Ahmed bin...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia--Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is the latest star name to make the move to Saudi Arabia after signing a deal to become head coach of Al-Ettifaq.The 43-year-old has been out of the game since being sacked by Aston Villa in October.Gerrard had previously said he had turned...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia--Saudi Arabia will take part in the 15th Arab Games, "Algeria 2023," which is set to commence next Wednesday. Algeria will host the event until July 15th, with the involvement of all Arab nations.Saudi Arabian athletes will compete in 17 different sports, including 14 Olympic disciplines, such as...

LONDON, UK - Novak Djokovic warned on Saturday that the "integrity and tradition" of tennis must be preserved should the sport strike a tournament deal with Saudi Arabia.Both the ATP and WTA, which run the money-spinning men's and women's tours, have had discussions with Saudi Arabia.The country has been signing up...

Everyone in the sports delegations taking part in the future forums now has a greater obligation to spare no effort in representing their nation in the best manner to produce the best possible results, he adds, noting that sports championships are the benchmark standard for gauging athletes' performance progress.

Sharjah, UAE--Sharjah Football Company has signed Mohamed Firas Belarbi, the Tunisian international defender, from the Ajman Club for an undisclosed sum.Regarded as one of the most effective attacking midfielders in the UAE championships over the past two seasons, Belarbi has an impressive track record. His remarkable contributions during the 2022-2023...

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA- The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) and the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) announced on Monday that Jeddah will host the next edition of the FIFA Club World Cup 2023.This follows an official visit made by a FIFA delegation to Jeddah last week to inspect the...

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...

A dynamic and industrious midfielder Kante, won the World Cup with France in 2018, said said he was "very excited to play for the Tigers". Current Ballon d'Or holder Benzema joined Al-Ittihad earlier this month, after 14 seasons with Real Madrid in which he won five Champions Leagues, four La...

London, United Kingdom -- A source close to Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani said Thursday that the Qatari bidders were still awaiting clarity from Manchester United after a report suggested they could be offered exclusivity in the battle to buy the club.United announced in November that the board was...

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 Jeddah, where a giant 'KB9' was emblazoned on the pitch in bright lights. Benzema, who won five Champions Leagues, four La Liga titles and three Copas del Rey with Madrid,...

The romance of a Barcelona return and prospect of eye-watering riches in Saudi Arabia fell by the wayside as Messi opted to join MLS, with Miami a city he has holidayed in on previous occasions. Messi said he would have loved to return to Barcelona but was afraid that the...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Real Madrid's Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema has signed for Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad for three years starting next season, a source in the Jeddah-based club told AFP on Tuesday."Benzema has signed a contract for his transfer to Al-Ittihad for a three-year period starting next season," the source...

Al Hilal football club officials are in Paris to seal a mega-deal with Lionel Messi, who is leaving Qatar-owned Paris-Saint Germain. The officials will meet Messi's agent, Jorge, with the aim of completing the signing. One source said Saudi delegation has one goal: "to return with Messi official approval to...

Strict steps are being taken to prevent scalping, with spectators required to provide identification information and show ID cards or passports to enter the stadium. But merchants on China's Taobao shopping platform immediately began offering booking services for the tickets, with one seller charging 18,000 yuan for what they claimed...