Consortium Pre-Qualified in Saudi Clubs Privatization
A consortium led by The D I O R Group (TDG) has been officially pre-qualified to move to the next phase of Saudi Arabia's program to privatize and invest in five football clubs, under a process overseen by the Ministry of Sport and the National Center for Privatization & PPP.
The consortium received a formal Notice of Pre-Qualification and will be invited to submit a binding offer during the upcoming Request for Proposals (RFP) stage. The current batch places five clubs on the table for investment: Al Riyadh Club, Al Fateh Club, Abha Club, Al Shoulla Club, and Al Tai Club.
The program invites qualified investors to acquire, operate, and develop these clubs, with options for full or partial ownership, club management, and operational development. To reach this stage, applicants had to meet Stage 1 organizational and legal criteria and achieve qualifying scores in the Stage 2 technical and financial evaluation, including a financial requirement of at least SAR 35,000,000 in available funding.
Key dates for the community
The deadline for pre-qualification applications for the five-clubs phase was 5 July 2026, while issuance of the RFP for qualified investors is expected before 31 August 2026. Investors submit their Expressions of Interest and qualification requests through the official National Center for Privatization investor portal, the main channel for the project.
The initiative is part of Vision 2030 and is built around three goals: creating an attractive investment environment in the sports sector, improving the professionalism, governance, and financial sustainability of clubs, and developing sports infrastructure to enhance the fan experience. For residents and expats across the Kingdom, the program signals continued private-sector investment in local football, with the potential to upgrade facilities and matchday experiences.
Stay updated with the latest news, events, sports updates, business insights, real estate and lifestyle stories on Saudi Living — the leading online platform for residents, expats, and visitors in Saudi Arabia.
Follow Saudi Living for daily updates:
- Instagram - @saudiliving
- X - @saudiliving
- Facebook - @saudiliving
- YouTube - @saudiliving
Up Next
KKIA Launches Silent Airport at Terminal 5
King Khalid International Airport begins the first phase of its Silent Airport project at Terminal 5, cutting public announcements and relying on digital channels.
Aug 20,2026
Saudi Business Revenues Up 6.1% in June 2026
Saudi operating revenues rose 6.1% year-on-year in June 2026, while issued building permits climbed 20.3%, per preliminary short-term indicators.
Aug 20,2026
SAR 2.7bn Financing Advances Westfield Riyadh Mall
Committed Murabaha facilities of SAR 2.7 billion advance the Westfield Riyadh lifestyle mall, part of wider retail and lifestyle funding across the capital.
Aug 20,2026
First Striped Hyena Cub Born in NEOM Nature Reserve
NEOM Nature Reserve documents the first wild birth of a reintroduced striped hyena in Saudi Arabia, marking a milestone in national rewilding efforts.
Aug 20,2026Related Stories
Four Saudi Clubs Move to New Ownership
Oct 28,2026Don't Miss Similar Listings
Be the first to know when new stories on this topic are published.
