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Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Sport, in collaboration with the National Centre for Privatisation & PPP (NCP), is seeking investors’ interest in developing and operating six sports clubs in the country.

The clubs that are open for privatisation include Alzulfi Sports Club (Alzulfi), Alnahdah Sports Club (Dammam), Alokhdood Sports Club (Najran), Alansar Sport (Medina), Alorobah Sports Club (Sakaka City) and Alkholood Sports Club (Ar-Rass City).

The announcement follows the ministry’s notice in July regarding the approval to privatise 14 sports clubs in the kingdom.

The client has set 19 September as the deadline for firms to submit their request for qualification (RFQ) for the main tender.

“The submission of the RFQs will be followed by evaluation and qualification and then the launch of the stage for submitting financial and technical offers by the approved qualified and reviewed entities,” NCP said in an official statement.

“Following this, the formal negotiation process will begin, followed by the selection of the best offers and the announcement of the investment entities that have acquired ownership of the aforementioned clubs. This will mark the completion of the official procedures specified in this phase.

“The move is part of the ongoing implementation of the sports clubs’ investment and privatisation project launched by the Crown Prince, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. It also aims to provide opportunities for the private sector to participate in building and developing the sports sector, thereby benefiting national teams, clubs, fans and all sports practitioners,” the statement added.

Saudi Arabia has big plans to develop its sports infrastructure. The kingdom will likely invest hundreds of billions of dollars in developing the required infrastructure to host the Fifa World Cup 2034.

In July, the country officially submitted its bid book to host the World Cup 2034 event at a ceremony hosted by Fifa in Paris, France.

According to the bidbook, Saudi Arabia plans to construct 11 new stadiums as part of its bid to host the Fifa World Cup 2034.

Eight of the 15 stadiums are located in the capital, Riyadh, four in Jeddah and one each in Al-Khobar, Abha and Neom.

The bid proposes 134 training sites across the kingdom, including 61 existing facilities and 73 new training venues.