Princess Nourah University Expands Women's Sports

Oct 25, 2026•2 min read

Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University in Riyadh has taken major steps to broaden women's participation in sport, winning a national volleyball title and hosting a large multi-sport championship for its female students.

The university's women's volleyball team claimed first place in the 16th Saudi University Sports Federation Volleyball Championship, held from 4 to 7 February 2026. The result underlined the growing competitiveness of women's university teams across the Kingdom.

Building on that momentum, the university's Women Students Sports Club hosted the sixth University Cup Championship in Riyadh from 5 to 23 April 2026. Around 1,155 students from 16 colleges and two institutes took part across a wide range of disciplines.

The championship featured 19 sports, including athletics, badminton, basketball, volleyball, futsal, handball, karate, judo, squash, e-sports, and events for persons with disabilities. The breadth of the programme reflects efforts to make sport accessible to as many students as possible.

A new cooperation agreement

In February 2026, the university and the Ministry of Sport signed a cooperation memorandum covering sports-law research, training for female students, professional development, seminars, and leadership programmes. The agreement aims to strengthen the pathway for women in sport, from grassroots participation to leadership roles.

For the wider community, the activities point to expanding opportunities for women and girls to compete, train, and build careers in sport — a direction aligned with national goals to increase physical activity and broaden participation across Saudi society.

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