Sportswashing in Saudi Arabia

Formula 1, football, golf – Saudi Arabia makes a point of attracting major sporting events. The strategy is part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's "Vision 2030" and is meant to boost the country's image. By Andreas Sten-Ziemons

  • Formula 1, racing scene at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
    Formula 1: the premier class of motorsport has been racing in Saudi Arabia since 2021. State-owned oil company Aramco is a major sponsor of the racing series. It has also become the principal sponsor of the Aston Martin team
  • Match scene between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid in the semi-finals of the Spanish Super Cup in Riyadh in January 2022
    Spanish Supercup: in 2019, 2021 and this year, fans of Spain's top teams had to travel to Saudi Arabia to cheer on their stars in the Supercopa. The contract with the Saudis runs until 2029 and earns La Liga €40 million a year
  • The Lazio Roma team at the presentation ceremony with trophy after the Supercoppa Italiana 2019 in Riyadh
    Italian Supercup: in 2018 and 2019, the Supercoppa Italiana was also staged in Saudi Arabia. Italian clubs had also previously played in Doha and Shanghai
  • Match scene from friendly between Brazil and Argentina in Riyadh
    South America summit: the Brazilian Selecao has been selling friendlies abroad for big money for years. In 2018 and 2019, Saudi Arabia secured the Brazilians' prestigious duel against Argentina
  • Two motorbikes cross the finish line at the 2020 Dakar Rally
    Dakar Rally: after ten years in South America, the tradition-steeped desert rally moved to the Arabian Peninsula in 2020. This means it is once again on a stable financial footing and will be held in front of spectators who are enthusiastic about motor sport. The contract runs for five years
  • At the Saudi Golf Championship, a veiled woman on the edge of the golf course holds a sign reading 'Quiet please!'
    Golf: when it comes to golf, Saudi Arabia is aiming to compete with the PGA Tour and lure away the best players with million-dollar salaries for its own tournament series. The Saudi Golf Championship has been part of the European Tour since 2019. The Saudi state fund PIF is a key sponsor
  • Fight between wrestlers Lacey Evans and Natalya Neidhart in Riyadh
    Wrestling: wrestling events have been staged in Saudi Arabia since 2014. The venue has been a repeated cause of disagreement among fans. 2019 saw the first women's fight to be held in the Kingdom. Women had previously been allowed in the audience, albeit only in male company
  • Magnus Carlsen at the 2017 World Blitz Chess Championship in Riyadh
    Chess: in 2017, the world championship in blitz chess was held in Riyadh. A ban on Israelis taking part and a requirement for female participants to wear headscarves and all-enveloping outer garments outside the event hall, however, caused an uproar
  • Newcastle United fans hold up a Saudi flag outside the stadium
    Newcastle United: it's not just at home that Saudi Arabia is prepared to pay a premium for sport. In October 2021, the Saudi state fund PIF invested around 350 million euros in premier league club Newcastle United and secured an 80 percent majority share