The Saudi Pro League has witnessed substantial growth in revenue, attendances and social media engagement, with revenue alone increasing by 650 per cent in the first month of the 2023/24 season – according to official league figures.
The Saudi Arabian top-flight embarked this summer on a period of unprecedented investment, with some of the world’s most recognisable footballers signing for the kingdom's leading clubs.
Among the most high-profile players to move to Saudi Arabia are Brazil superstar Neymar, Ballon d’Or holder Karim Benzema, current African Footballer of the Year Sadio Mane, World Cup winner N’Golo Kante, Manchester City treble-winner Riyad Mahrez, and former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson.
The Saudi Pro League said on Wednesday that the recruitment of world-class international talent has prompted a considerable rise in the league’s profile, recorded through fan engagement – local and international – and both broadcast and commercial revenue.
The SPL said the number of sponsors has grown around 75 per cent this season, claiming the competition has become the third most profitable league in the world in relation to sponsorship revenue.
New international broadcast deals, encompassing 38 broadcasters, mean the league has agreements across 140 territories, with matches shown live in multiple markets, such as the UK, Spain, Germany, France, Italy and Portugal.
The SPL said the broadcast deals have led to a 650 per cent increase in revenue, “clear evidence of the SPL’s successful transformation strategy to grow revenue for league and clubs, while increasing the commercial value of the league and attracting investors”.
Meanwhile, the overall attendance for the first six rounds of the new season has been tallied at 440,003 – a 25 per growth on last year’s figures for the same period.
The SPL cited an “organic growth” of 1.5 million new social media followers across its platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat and X – formerly Twitter – with more than 150 million video views so far this campaign. Its official English Instagram account has attracted more than 200,000 followers since its launch on August 9, two days before the season kicked off.
The SPL has publicly stated its objective to eventually become one of the world’s top leagues.
Carlo Nohra, the SPL’s chief operating officer, said: “This is an exciting time for fans of football in Saudi [Arabia]; we are witnessing something very special. The combination of international stars and young Saudi talent is generating genuine excitement on and off the pitch and also raising standards to the highest possible level among our own player pool.
“The raised levels of interest in the [SPL], both by football fans in the kingdom and around the world, and in terms of the unprecedented number of potential global sponsorship opportunities, are clear evidence that the strategy is starting to work.
“We have a more competitive product, on and off the pitch, and we are moving to the next level in both areas, in line with our strategy. The next phase for us on this wonderful journey will be building infrastructure and developing the league further off the pitch while ensuring we have a world-class product that engages and excites on the pitch.”
On its aggressive player recruitment throughout the recently closed transfer window, the league said it made close to 100 overseas signings via the newly established Player Acquisition Centre of Excellence.
A statement said elite player recruitment forms part of a co-ordinated strategy between the SPL and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation to develop local talent alongside “the best international players, as part of a drive to increase competitiveness on and off the pitch while ensuring a sustainable future”.
The average age of players competing in the league in the past month has reduced by two years, to 27.
Michael Emenalo, the SPL director of football, said: “The Saudi Pro League has undergone a rapid and unprecedented transformation this season, where we have seen 94 players bought from around the world providing a centralised approach to governance, transfers, squad mapping and player care.
“It’s also allowed us to help to create clear developmental pathways for Saudi youth while also giving them immediate playing opportunities.”
Manchester City 4
Otamendi (52) Sterling (59) Stones (67) Brahim Diaz (81)
Real Madrid 1
Oscar (90)
Suggested picnic spots
Abu Dhabi
Umm Al Emarat Park
Yas Gateway Park
Delma Park
Al Bateen beach
Saadiyaat beach
The Corniche
Zayed Sports City
Dubai
Kite Beach
Zabeel Park
Al Nahda Pond Park
Mushrif Park
Safa Park
Al Mamzar Beach Park
Al Qudrah Lakes
Honeymoonish
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Second ODI
England 322-7 (50 ovs)
India 236 (50 ovs)
England win by 86 runs
Next match: Tuesday, July 17, Headingley
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RESULTS
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Diriyah%20project%20at%20a%20glance
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Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind