Saudi Arabia Boosts Sports Participation Nationwide

Saudi Arabia is widening community access to sports and recreation, with national programs encouraging walking, cycling, and group activities across the Kingdom. The push, led through the Quality of Life Program and the Sports for All Federation, aims to make physical activity part of daily life for residents in cities including Riyadh, Jeddah, and beyond.

The national goal is for 40% of the population to take part in physical activity by 2030. Recent figures show strong momentum: in 2025, 59.1% of adults met the recommended 150 minutes of weekly physical activity, while 19% of children and adolescents aged 5 to 17 reached at least 60 minutes of daily activity.

Group participation has grown sharply. More than 650 sports groups were created through the Sports for All application during 2025, bringing the total to over 9,000 groups since launch, serving more than 230,000 participants. The app lets users join groups, take part in community challenges, and track their activity. Community events and programs were hosted at 3,285 sports venues nationwide.

Infrastructure and major events

In Riyadh, the Sports Boulevard is being developed as integrated infrastructure for walking, cycling, sports, and recreation, giving residents dedicated space to stay active. Large-scale events are also drawing wide interest: the Riyadh Marathon 2026 offered multiple-distance races and attracted roughly 50,000 participants.

For the community, the expansion means more accessible ways to stay healthy, meet neighbors, and build active routines. With free-to-join groups, open public spaces, and growing event calendars, residents and expats across the Kingdom have more options than ever to add movement to their day.

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