A Winning Formula: Saudi Arabia’s Sport Strategy, Sport Investment, Sport Industry and Perceptions of its Involvement in the Global Sport’s Sector

Abstract

In recent years, the investment and development of sports within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has seen a remarkable uptick in intensity, focus, and urgency. A country at the heart of the Gulf, Arab, and Islamic world, the Kingdom has also entered the global sports market with its full weight. Ever since the government released the 2020 Quality of Life Program, the attention the sport sector has received has been unrivalled internationally in terms of government involvement and support. The Ministry of Sport in Saudi Arabia has been investing into the sport sector by providing billion-dollar investments into the multiple sporting federations within the kingdom, athlete support and development programs, athletics events such as the Arab and Saudi games. Football in the Kingdom is also very popular among the population and The Saudi Pro League has also seen billion-dollar investments and unparalleled support signing the world’s best players form Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema, to Neymar. Reports suggest that the Saudi Pro League also known as ROSHN Saudi League (RSL) has received a budget of over $17 billon dollar up until 2030 to achieve its goal of becoming one of the top 5 leagues in the world. The Ministry of Sport has also been hosting many sporting events including Motorsports such as Formula 1 with the Jeddah Grand Prix, The Dakkar Rally, Diriyah Formula E Grand Prix, and Extreme E. Sporting events include boxing mega events as well with the nation hosting global boxing superstar such as Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, Jake Paul among others. The Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia has also recently acquired the PGA giving it control over Golf Internationally, is in talks with ATP over a possible investment takeover, and also owns 5 Football clubs including Newcastle United a Premier League club, Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli, and Al-Ittihad with plans of buying even more clubs in Europe. The PIF also own SRJ Sports Investments an investment arm tasked with developing IP rights, sport fan experiences, and Sport Broadcasting in the Gulf and North Africa region and have also invested in the Pro Fighters League (PFL) the UFC’s most important direct competitor. However, the academic research on Saudi Arabia’s sports investments, sport industry and involvement in global sports, is relatively limited perhaps because it is a recent phenomenon. Limited studies exist on the motivations and strategies driving Saudi Arabia's increased investment in sport both locally and internationally, hindering a comprehensive understanding of their goals and potential outcomes. Additionally, there is a notable gap in research studying the intersection of sports and investments. The impact of these investments on national development, including socioeconomic benefits, job creation, infrastructure improvements, public health promotion, and 6 international relations are evident yet remain largely unexamined. Additionally, the influence of global perceptions on Saudi’s investment and aim to be a key international player in global sport has not been thoroughly explored. Further research is needed to address these gaps.