Regulatory & Compliance
A New Dawn for Sports Law in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Sports law is one of the fastest-growing areas of law globally and plays a key role in supporting the objectives of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
The sports sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is regulated under the supervision of the Ministry of Sport, which seeks, among other objectives, to raise awareness of Saudi sports and strengthen the Kingdom’s presence on the international sporting stage.
Among the recent developments is the acquisition of a Saudi football club by a foreign company. The Ministry of Sport announced the privatization of three clubs in the Saudi Pro League. The Harburg Group, led by American businessman Ben Harburg, completed the acquisition of a 100% stake in Al-Kholood Club as part of the Kingdom’s pioneering privatization initiative under Vision 2030.
As Saudi Arabia prepares to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, the Ministry of Sport faces the challenge of balancing regulatory integrity with rapid growth, while ensuring that Saudi sports remain competitive, transparent, and aligned with international standards.
The Kingdom’s sports sector is undergoing a historic transformation, driven by a robust governance framework and ambitious investments by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and major state-backed companies. The PIF has acquired a 75% stake in major clubs, including Al Hilal, Al Nassr, Al Ittihad, and Al Ahli, while non-profit entities retain the remaining 25%. At the same time, Saudi Aramco holds a 100% stake in Al-Qadsiah Club.
These strategic acquisitions, together with the arrival of global sporting stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar Jr., and Karim Benzema, clearly demonstrate the Kingdom’s growing influence on the global sports landscape.
In the esports sector, Saudi Arabia hosts the Esports World Cup in Riyadh and continues to host major international boxing events that attract significant global attention.
This expansion forms part of a broader national strategy under Vision 2030. As the sector continues to evolve, a wide range of legal issues are increasingly emerging, from sponsorship agreements, regulatory frameworks, and image rights to compliance and international arbitration.
The establishment of the Saudi Center for Sports Arbitration (SCSA), together with increased legal coordination with FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to building a modern, credible, and internationally recognized sporting ecosystem.
Strong governance and sound legal counsel are critical for companies and individuals seeking to operate in this rapidly evolving sector. The ERLF team is well positioned to assist clients in navigating the regulatory landscape, including arbitration, mergers and acquisitions, corporate and commercial agreements, while providing unique insight into government contracts within this developing area of law.
For further information, please do not hesitate to contact the Corporate and Commercial Transactions Team at ERLF.
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