Saudi Sports Club Privatization Expands in 2026

A new phase of the Sports Clubs Investment and Privatization Project is moving forward in 2026, as authorities offered five Saudi clubs to investors and advanced ownership changes affecting several of the Kingdom's largest teams.

Under the latest round, five clubs were made available to investors: Al-Riyadh, Abha, Al-Fateh, Al-Tai, and Al-Shoulla. Interested parties were required to submit qualification requests and expressions of interest through the official privatization process managed by the National Center for Privatization and PPP, with a submission deadline of 5 July 2026.

Two additional clubs, Al-Najmah and Al-Akhdoud, remained in negotiations ahead of contract signing and the formal transfer of ownership.

In a parallel development, the Public Investment Fund began transferring the remaining 25% stake held by nonprofit foundations in Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, Al-Ittihad, and Al-Ahli to the fund. These four clubs had already received a 75% PIF ownership stake during the initial phase of privatization, meaning the move brings them under full fund ownership. As part of the restructuring, the boards of the nonprofit foundations were also being dissolved.

The project does not publish a general fee or fixed purchase price for investors, as financial terms vary by club and by tender. For residents and sports fans across the Kingdom, the changes signal continued efforts to professionalize club management, attract private capital, and strengthen the commercial foundations of Saudi football as part of broader national development goals.

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