Wael Al-Fayez to Lead Kings League MENA

Kings League MENA has appointed Saudi sports and media executive Wael Al-Fayez as its first managing director, tasking him with leading operations across the Middle East and North Africa from the competition's regional hub in Saudi Arabia. His role covers commercial strategy, key partnerships, and operational growth.

Al-Fayez brings more than 20 years of leadership experience across sports, media, entertainment, and technology, and previously served as chief commercial officer at the Saudi Pro League. Kings League MENA is the regional edition of the creator-led seven-a-side football competition founded by Gerard Piqué, with Saudi Arabia acting as the base for the MENA region.

The appointment comes ahead of Split 1 of Kings League MENA in Riyadh, scheduled from 18 September to 30 October 2026 as part of the entertainment program in the capital. The season features 10 teams representing football markets and fan communities from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Kuwait, and Qatar.

In the league stage, teams face each other twice across 11 matchdays, followed by playoffs that culminate in a Final Four — two semifinals and the final — on 30 October 2026. Matches will be staged at Cool Arena in Boulevard Riyadh City, within the Riyadh Season zone.

Operations in Saudi Arabia run through a joint venture with SURJ Sports Investment, the sports investment arm linked to the Public Investment Fund. The competition first arrived locally with the Kings Cup MENA during Riyadh Season 2025, a five-day event that kicked off on 24 October 2025.

Players interested in joining register through the official online form on the Kings League MENA website, followed by scheduled trial sessions. Tickets, team registration, and competition management are handled through Kings League and Riyadh Season entertainment channels, not through government e-services platforms.

---

Stay updated with the latest news, events, sports updates, business insights, real estate and lifestyle stories on Saudi Living — the leading online platform for residents, expats, and visitors in Saudi Arabia.

Follow Saudi Living for daily updates:

• Instagram - @saudiliving
• X - @saudiliving
• Facebook - @saudiliving
• YouTube - @saudiliving