Saudi Sports Federations Elect New Boards Under 2026 Law

Saudi sports federations across a wide range of disciplines are selecting the members of their boards of directors through elections, part of a governance framework that now covers football, volleyball, basketball, athletics, boxing and wrestling, gymnastics, karate, taekwondo, judo, fencing, tennis, table tennis, swimming, cycling, weightlifting and bodybuilding, among others.

Boards of sports clubs are elected through similar mechanisms. Each federation is required to have a general assembly, a board of directors and designated executive positions, with structures and procedures documented in constitutional or basic statutes. The general assembly is the body that elects the president, vice-president and board members for the entities concerned.

The regulatory foundation is set out in the Basic Law of Sports Federations and the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee, which defines federations, the Committee and the general provisions for their formation and competencies. For some bodies, terms are fixed — for example, the Saudi Olympians Association board consists of a president, vice-president and seven members elected for a four-year term, with a limit of no more than two successive or three separate terms.

What the 2026 Sports Law changes

The new unified Sports Law, rolled out in 2026, standardizes governance structures for non-company sports entities. It requires formal boards, clearly defined executive roles, documented statutes, convened general assemblies, clear lines of authority and enforceable governance obligations across federations, leagues, clubs and the Olympic Committee.

Under current practice, federations and clubs must apply fit-and-proper standards to directors and key officers before appointment. These include identity verification, criminal and integrity checks, confirmation that a candidate is free of sanctions or bans, a review of sport-integrity history, and an assessment of financial standing where the role carries financial responsibility. The results must be recorded in the board's decision file.

For residents and sports fans, the changes aim to bring greater transparency and accountability to how the country's federations and clubs are run, ensuring that those leading them meet clear eligibility and integrity requirements.

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