Saudi Arabia’s sports sector is poised for significant growth, with its market value projected to reach $22.4 billion by 2030, according to a report by SURJ Sports Investments, a Public Investment Fund (PIF) company. This represents a substantial increase from its current value of $8 billion.

This growth is driven by significant investments and a focus on hosting major international sporting events. This progress aligns with Vision 2030’s ambition to establish Saudi Arabia as a global hub for sports and entertainment, with Middle East and North Africa sports revenues expected to rise from $4.79 billion in 2024 to $5.57 billion by 2029, as per Statista.

Since 2019, KSA has hosted over 100 such events across 40 different sports, including the FIFA Club World Cup, the Saudi Cup, and Formula 1 races. The recent successful bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup further underscores this commitment.

The sector’s contribution to the national GDP has already grown from $2.4 billion in 2016 to $6.9 billion in 2019, with projections reaching $16.5 billion by 2030, accounting for 1.5% of GDP. The industry is also expected to generate over 100,000 jobs in the next decade.

Infrastructure investments are another key driver, with $2.7 billion allocated to develop and upgrade sports facilities by 2028. Additionally, SURJ’s launch of the Professional Fighters League Middle East and North Africa has created new opportunities for regional athletes in mixed martial arts.

Participation in sports is on the rise among Saudi citizens, with 50% of the population now engaging in regular physical activities, compared to just 13% in 2015. The “Sports for All Federation” initiative alone engaged over 295,000 participants in 2023.

Female involvement has seen a remarkable 400% increase since 2015, with women now accounting for 45% of community sports club members and 97 registered female coaches in 2023—a 61% year-on-year growth.

Esports and digital gaming have also emerged as key growth areas, with $38 billion earmarked for the sector to contribute $13.3 billion to GDP by 2030. 

“This initiative opens new avenues for athletes from Saudi Arabia and the Middle East to compete in this discipline,” said Danny Townsend, the CEO of SURJ Sports Investments.

“As we approach 2025, the focus will remain on continuing efforts to achieve more accomplishments,” he added.