Grassroots Cricket Grows Across Saudi Arabia

Oct 25, 2026•2 min read

Cricket is growing rapidly across Saudi Arabia, reaching schoolchildren, communities, workers, and corporate teams in cities nationwide. The Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation (SACF) runs its Schools Cricket program to promote the sport for both boys and girls, alongside academy, community, expatriate-worker, corporate, social, and national championship competitions.

The scale of participation is already significant. The 2021 National Cricket Championship brought together more than 7,000 players across 360 teams, using over 100 grounds in 11 Saudi cities. Youth development is a central focus, with school cricket feeding into planned under-16 and under-19 competitions for boys and girls.

To support player progression, SACF has established a cricket training center in Taif dedicated to player development, coach development, and high-performance preparation. In a further step toward international standards, SACF and the Pakistan Cricket Board signed an agreement to develop an international-standard cricket stadium in Jeddah.

Academies for young players

Private academies are expanding access for families. Mind Academy offers training for boys and girls aged 5 to 17, though its published fee was not available. JSC Sports Centre operates a cricket stadium near Al-Naseem in Jeddah with three playing surfaces and performance-analysis technology, with prices and timings not publicly listed. YACA provides structured training in Dammam and Al Khobar and organizes three to four major tournaments. The Nets Cricket Academy in Jeddah lists registration at SAR 300

For the community, the growth means more opportunities for children and amateur players to take up the sport close to home. However, no verified 2026 SACF registration fee, nationwide venue directory, official booking procedure, or centralized application channel has been identified, so families are advised to contact academies directly for current details.

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