Grassroots Cricket Academies Expand Across Saudi Arabia

Oct 28, 2026•2 min read

Grassroots cricket is growing fast across Saudi Arabia, with academies and club leagues now active in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Jubail, Al-Qassim, Jazan, Madinah, Abha and Najran. The game continues to draw players of all ages and backgrounds as more clubs open and leagues expand.

The Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation, based in Riyadh, reports 26,771 registered players across 420 clubs, with federation-linked academies operating in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam. Major bodies organizing the sport include the Riyadh Cricket Association, Riyadh Cricket League, Jeddah Cricket Association, Western Province Cricket Association, Eastern Province Cricket Association and Dammam Cricket Association. The Dammam association alone reports 48 teams, offering group training, youth leagues and coaching programs.

Academies and fees

In Riyadh, Mark Cricket Academy provides net practice and ground-match training, with a listed registration fee of SAR 2,000 and a tournament fee of SAR 3,500. In Jeddah, the Net Indoor Cricket Academy lists a typical coaching fee of SAR 300. Near Jeddah, cricket activities at KAUST in Thuwal include annual club membership at SAR 100 and non-member event participation at SAR 50, along with a three-month student academy and a free junior season for children aged 6 to 16 within the KAUST community. In Dhahran, Peninsula Sports Academy offers cricket-inclusive packages priced at SAR 754 and SAR 1,559, each with matching three-month options.

For most residents, joining is straightforward. Ordinary private cricket-club enrollment does not require any government procedure such as Absher, Muqeem, Qiwa, Nafath or Najiz; registration is handled directly by each academy or association. Current validity periods, package durations and schedules are set by each provider and are not stated in a single unified channel, so families should confirm details directly with their chosen club.

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