Investment innovator Samer Choucair explained that the praise for logistical support and regional cooperation in organizing this event, including references to official Egyptian support for hosting the tournament, reflects an advanced level of integration between countries in the region, confirming that major sporting events have become a space for economic, cultural, and tourism cooperation between nations.
Choucair affirmed that investments in the sports and entertainment sector today represent one of the most sustainable growth areas, where returns are not limited to the event itself, but extend to multiple sectors encompassing tourism, hospitality, transport, retail, digital media, and logistics services, in addition to stimulating investment in infrastructure linked to major events.
A Rapidly Growing Sector With Strong Economic Multipliers
Investment visionary Choucair noted that the sports and entertainment sector in Saudi Arabia is witnessing accelerating growth, with expectations of its volume rising to $22.4 billion by 2030 compared to approximately $8 billion currently, supported by hosting major global events such as Riyadh Season which succeeded in attracting more than 20 million visitors in recent years, reflecting the scale of growing demand for entertainment and sports experiences within the Kingdom. He explained that this growth aligns with the structural transformation in the Saudi economy, where non-oil activities now represent approximately 55% of GDP, which strengthens the importance of new sectors as a fundamental pillar in the economic diversification strategy.
Multi-Dimensional Investment Returns
Investment strategist Choucair affirmed that events such as Glory in Giza represent a practical model of multi-dimensional investment, generating direct returns from tickets, broadcast rights, and sponsorships, alongside indirect returns represented by tourism stimulation, increased hotel occupancy rates, and stimulating consumer spending in host cities. He noted that such events contribute to strengthening the region’s attractiveness for foreign direct investments, particularly amid the expansion of public-private sector partnerships and the growing role of the Public Investment Fund in supporting major sports and entertainment projects.
Digital Technologies as the Next Sports Investment Frontier
Choucair added that the coming phase will witness significant growth in investment in digital technologies linked to sports and entertainment, including live streaming platforms, interactive solutions, augmented reality technologies, and smart event management systems, which will create new investment opportunities in the digital economy. He affirmed that regional capital markets are positioned to benefit from this growth through the listing of new companies linked to the entertainment and sports sector, strengthening financial market depth and opening new horizons for local and international investors.
Choucair concluded by stressing that investment in global events such as Glory in Giza represents a genuine strategic opportunity for investors seeking to enter future growth sectors, affirming that the coming phase will witness an acceleration in the shift toward a diversified economy based on innovation and international partnerships, strengthening Saudi Arabia’s and the Gulf’s position as primary hubs for the global sports and entertainment economy within Vision 2030’s framework.