Sports

Tom Brady and head of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, Turki al-Sheikh, unveil the flag football tournament in Las Vegas on Sept. 17, 2025.

Saudi sports push targets NFL with flag football series featuring Tom Brady

The Public Investment Fund is not yet investing in the National Football League amid restrictions on state entities, but is eyeing flag football as the sport grows in the region.

Saudi Arabia's Bayan Sadagah (C-L) celebrates her goal during a friendly football match between Saudi Arabia and Bhutan at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz stadium in Abha on September 24, 2022. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

Saudi Arabia launches 24-hour women’s sports channel: What to know

The launch coincides with the start of the Saudi Women’s Premier League season, which will see the soccer competition broadcast nationally and globally for the first time.

A supporter of Sudanese football team al-Hilal Omdurman watches on a phone a stream of his team's CAF Champions League group stage match.

World's largest illegal sports streaming site shut down after Egypt arrests

Streameast, believed to be the world’s largest illegal sports streaming network, was taken down in August during a sting operation conducted by Egyptian authorities in collaboration with a US anti-piracy group.

Players in action during day one of the Girl Gamer Esports Festival at Meydan Racecourse on Feb. 21, 2020, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Dubai Police to host expanded esports event amid UAE gaming push: What to know

The UAE wants to grow its esports sector as part of its economic diversification plans, mirroring a similar endeavor in neighboring Saudi Arabia.

United Arab Emirates

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Jordan refuses to play Israel in FIBA Basketball World Cup: What to know

Jordanian fans cheer for their team during the FIBA Basketball World Cup group C match between Jordan and New Zealand at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, suburban Manila on August 28, 2023. (Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP) (Photo by TED ALJIBE/AFP via Getty Images)

Saudi Arabia bets 2034 World Cup will bring foreign investment, reduce reliance on debt

Saudis celebrate World Cup announcement

Culture

Saudi Arabia wins bid to host 2034 FIFA World Cup: What we know

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - DECEMBER 11: A drone show is seen displaying the words "Welcome to Saudi 34" as Saudi Arabia is announced as the host nation for the FIFA World Cup 2034 on December 11, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Christophe Viseux/Getty Images for Saudi Arabian Football Federation)

Culture

Saudi Dania Akeel’s Baja Cup win inspires Arab women in motorsports

Dania Akeel

ILYAS AKENGIN/AFP via Getty Images

Turkey’s first national soccer game in Kurdish heartland hints at electioneering

The match was set in Diyarbakir by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as he faces a tough vote next year.

IRNA/AFP via Getty Images

Israeli-owned tanker hit by drone off Oman coast

No group or country have taken responsibility for the drone attack last night against the Pacific Zircon, but the Israeli security system suspects Iran was behind the hit.

KARIM JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images

World Cup to bring thousands of Israeli fans to Qatar under new travel deal

Israel and Qatar have no diplomatic relations, but a special visa deal will allow thousands of Israeli soccer fans attend the world tournament.

Activists play football during a symbolic action by LGBT+ associations in front of the FIFA museum in Zurich on Nov. 8, 2022.

Qatar World Cup ambassador says homosexuality is 'haram'

Qatar’s human rights record is under scrutiny in the lead-up to the World Cup, particularly regarding the treatment of LGBTQ people and laborers.

Samer Haj Yehia (screen), chairman of Israel's Bank Leumi, attends a panel on the third day of the annual Future Investment Initiative conference, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 27, 2022.

Informal ties grow between Israel, Saudi Arabia

With the current rift between Washington and Riyadh, every baby step in informal relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia counts.

AFP via Getty Images

Russian referendums strain Egypt-Ukraine ties

Egypt denies sending observers to monitor the Russian referendums on illegally annexing four regions in Ukraine.

Sihwan Kim of the US competes in the LIV Golf Invitational Jeddah at the Royal Greens Golf Club on Oct. 14, 2022.

Culture

LIV Golf makes debut in Saudi Arabia

The controversial Saudi-funded tour is also seeking a TV deal as it continues to gain momentum.

Morocco's Btissam Sadini (L) competes against Serbia's Jovana Prekovic in the women's kumite -61kg elimination round of the karate competition during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Nippon Budokan, Tokyo, Japan, Aug. 6, 2021.

Culture

Morocco's women martial artists defy cultural stereotypes

Al-Monitor talks to four Moroccan female martial arts athletes about cultural stereotypes and how to inspire and empower future generations of female fighters.

People gather next to the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup countdown clock in Doha, on Sept. 12, 2022.

Culture

Egypt to push tourism at Qatar World Cup

Egypt is offering direct flights from Doha to Egyptian cities during the 2022 FIFA World Cup to lure fans and boost tourism.

Culture

Reports: Saudi Arabia’s LIV Golf will not receive world ranking points

The controversial tour, which is backed by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, recently made an alliance with Dubai’s MENA Tour in an effort to enable its players to qualify for Official World Golf Ranking points.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi arrives during the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at the Beijing National Stadium, Beijing, China, Feb. 4, 2022.

Culture

Egypt eyes bid to host 2036 Olympic Games

Egypt hopes to become the first African host of the Olympic Games, relying on support from the president of the International Olympic Committee to stage the global event.

Iran's coach Carlos Queiroz looks on during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup semi-final football match.

Culture

Who is Carlos Queiroz, the man who could be Iran’s coach at the World Cup in Doha?

Iranian state media reported that the veteran Portuguese coach will again lead the Iranian men’s national soccer team in Doha this year. However, the deal may not be complete yet.