Saudi Clubs Privatization: How Investors Can Apply

Oct 30, 2026•2 min read

Saudi Arabia's Sports Clubs Investment and Privatization Project aims to open the Kingdom's football and sports sector to private capital, raise governance and professionalism at clubs, and develop modern sporting infrastructure. The initiative sets a clear path for Saudi and international investors to acquire, manage, and develop clubs.

The project runs along two main tracks. In the first, ownership of eight clubs was transferred to the Public Investment Fund and specified Saudi entities; four major clubs were turned into companies, with 75% owned by the Public Investment Fund and 25% held by their nonprofit foundations. The second track offers additional clubs to qualified investors for ownership, management, and development.

The offering process is managed jointly by the Ministry of Sport and the National Center for Privatization and PPP. Interested parties begin by registering through the Ministry of Sport's official website, then submit qualification documents through the National Center's official platform once a club offering opens. The process typically moves through investor qualification, a request for proposals, binding offers, evaluation, and finally ownership transfer. A single club offering can take roughly eight to ten months after investor interest is received.

Which clubs are being offered

The 2026 offering includes Al-Riyadh, Abha, Al-Fateh, Al-Tai, and Al-Shoulla, with a reported financial qualification requirement of at least SAR 35 million in available funding. An earlier 2024 phase covered Al-Zulfi, Al-Nahda, Al-Okhdood, Al-Ansar, Al-Orouba, and Al-Kholoud.

For residents and fans across Riyadh, Jeddah and beyond, the project signals bigger investment in local clubs, stronger management, and improved facilities over time. No official acquisition price, application fee, or fixed payment schedule has been publicly stated; each tender's official documents govern the applicable deadlines and terms.

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