News - Middle East: Saudi Arabia's international sports spending spree is driven by domestic economic and political considerations as well as attempts to build soft power abroad. So far, it has been pretty successful. In football, Saudi Arabia was recently chosen to host this year’s FIFA Club World  and will stage the Asian Cup in 2027. The country’s tourism authority has also reportedly signed a deal to sponsor this year’s FIFA Women’s world Clob in Australia.

Then there is the ownership (via the country’s sovereign wealth fund) of Newcastle United FC, and suggestions that Saudi Arabia was interested in bidding for Manchester United and Liverpool. One of football’s most famous stars, Christiano Ronaldo, is currently playing for the Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr, where he is said to earn around £500,000 a day.

The scale of Saudi Arabia’s investment is clear enough. But it is worth remembering that this hugely expensive outlay is not for reasons of vanity or largesse. It is a carefully constructed strategy in response to the kingdom’s pressing economic, political, and social challenges.

Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman  (commonly known as “MBS”) understands the value of sport being deployed as a policy instrument to secure the long-term future of the Gulf state.

The transformation process is also political. At home, the Saudi government continues to be mindful of events across the Arab world that led to popular protests  in 2010 and 2011. With almost 70% of its population  aged under 35, fears of social unrest tangible and real.

By focusing on the promotion of sport, entertainment, and leisure, MBS and his officials are specifically addressing the interests and demands of Saudi Arabia's young consumers as a means of averting disaffection among them.

Internationally, Saudi Arabia is regularly accused of sportswashing its way out of human rights concerns — an attempt to distract from regular executions, the war in Yemen, and the 2018 murder of Saudi journalist JamalKhashoggi. Others contend that, despite the country’s supposed transformation, the rights of women and girls are still being denied, and that dissidents are being suppressed.

Source: Globely News