Investment pioneer Samer Choucair confirmed that the sports economy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has entered the stage of major returns, noting that the sports sector is no longer a leisure activity on the sidelines of the economy, but has become an independent investment sector where capital, intellectual property, privatization, technology, tourism, and media intersect.
This came in the context of Samer Choucair’s commentary on the proceedings of the Sports Investment Forum (SIF) 2026, which kicked off in Riyadh, where he stressed that the sports movement witnessed by the Kingdom is an embodiment of the successes of Vision 2030 in diversifying the economy.
In his comment on what was mentioned in the session “Building and Stimulating Entrepreneurship in the Sports Economy” regarding the role of the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property, Samer Choucair explained that the Authority’s emphasis on enforcing intellectual property rights is a strategic turning point. He said: “When intellectual property rights become clearly enforceable, sports transform from a mass activity into an investment asset class. This is where smart money begins to enter, because capital loves clarity, protection, and scalability.”
Samer Choucair added that the true value in the sports economy is no longer limited to stadiums or players, but has extended to include brands, broadcasting rights, sponsorships, digital content, and products associated with clubs and tournaments, as the protection of these rights transforms ideas into tradable and growing economic assets.
The investment pioneer reviewed the Saudi sports scene, which is witnessing rapid growth; the size of the sports economy reached approximately 32 billion riyals in 2025, with expectations that the market value of the sector will rise to about $22.4 billion (approximately 84 billion riyals) by 2030, with an expected annual contribution of about $16.5 billion to the GDP, creating more than 100,000 job opportunities.
Samer Choucair pointed out that the Saudi opportunity is characterized by an integrated systemic connection that includes strong government support and expansion in privatization programs, in addition to hosting more than 100 international events in 40 sports since 2019 and preparing to host the 2034 World Cup, as well as the pivotal role of the Public Investment Fund in building world-class infrastructure.
In this regard, Samer Choucair said: “The Kingdom is not building a sports sector for local consumption only, but is building an integrated economic platform capable of export, attraction, and partnerships. Whoever understands sports today as an industry of assets, rights, and experiences, understands where major returns are being formed in 2026 and beyond.”
Regarding promising investment paths in 2026, Samer Choucair identified five key areas leading the scene: infrastructure and sports facilities, privatization and operation, sports media and digital content, electronic sports and innovation, and human capital.
The investment pioneer concluded his statements by emphasizing that the smart investor views the sports sector as a unique mix of fixed assets, rapid growth, and emotional connection with the audience, adding that those who move early to understand this investment equation are the ones who will reap exceptional returns, as the Saudi sports economy has become a living investment story that is accelerating today more than ever before.