Saudi Sports Sector Set to Reach SAR84bn by 2030
Saudi Arabia's sports sector is on track for rapid expansion, with projections showing it could reach approximately SAR84 billion (about $22.4 billion) by 2030, up from roughly SAR30 billion (about $8 billion). The growth is being driven by a wave of large-scale venue and infrastructure projects across the Kingdom's major cities.
Spending on sports infrastructure alone is projected at around SAR10.1 billion (about $2.7 billion) through 2028. A key pillar of this push is Riyadh's Sports Boulevard, which stretches roughly 135 km from Wadi Hanifah to Wadi Al-Sulai and will include more than 50 sports facilities for residents and visitors.
Major venues and the 2034 World Cup
The Kingdom's plan to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup includes 15 stadiums across five cities — 11 new stadiums and four upgraded sports cities. Planned or developing venues include King Salman Stadium in the الرياض, Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium in القدية, Jeddah Central Stadium, Aramco Stadium in Al-Khobar, and the upgraded King Fahd Sports City Stadium in the الرياض. In جدة, King Abdullah Sports City already offers capacity for more than 62,000 spectators.
For the community, the expansion means more accessible sports facilities, new venues for major events, and expanded leisure options close to home. Ticket prices, opening times, and booking channels vary by event and are published through each event's organizer or the relevant venue, as there is no single admission fee or platform covering the sector as a whole.
The projected figures reflect the sector's broader direction under رؤية السعودية 2030, which places sport and healthy living at the center of national development plans.
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