Saudi Arabia’s Involvement in Various Sports as WTA Tennis Relocates to Riyadh
The season-ending event offers players a significant increase in prize money, now totaling around £12million (€15m). Saudi Arabia is strategically focusing on sports to improve its image and prepare for a post-oil era. This is evidenced by state-linked entities acquiring stakes in various sporting ventures and continuing to expand their portfolio.
In tennis, Saudi Arabia’s involvement has been growing, with Jeddah hosting the ATP tour’s Next Gen Finals and the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) serving as the title sponsor for the men’s rankings. Additionally, Rafael Nadal has become an ambassador for the Saudi Tennis Federation. However, critics view these developments as an attempt to overshadow the country’s poor human rights record, particularly regarding women.
The country’s influence in football has also surged, evident in the majority ownership of four Saudi Pro League clubs by PIF and the noteworthy transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo to Al-Nassr. Furthermore, Saudi Arabia has been awarded the hosting rights for the 2034 World Cup. In snooker, Saudi Arabia hosted a competition with a £2m prize pot, securing a 10-year agreement to be part of the World Snooker Tour’s calendar.
A breakaway division, likened to football’s European Super League, caused division among players, leading to the formation of a single entity by LIV, the PGA Tour, and the PGA European Tour last summer. Boxing has also seen significant developments in Saudi Arabia, with a growing number of high-profile events taking place in the country. Additionally, the kingdom is looking to expand its investments in horse racing, despite facing opposition from protestors.
In terms of wrestling, WWE announced a 10-year partnership with the Ministry of Sport in 2018, leading to the hosting of two major annual events in Saudi Arabia. Women wrestlers must adhere to Islamic norms by wearing bodysuits. Furthermore, in MMA, SRJ Sports Investments, a subsidiary of PIF, purchased a minority stake in the Professional Fighters League (PFL) last year, indicating Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in the sport.
