MENA
Top F1 sponsor Qatar Airways adds MotoGP to portfolio
Qatar Airways, one of world sport's most prominent sponsors, has signed a multi-year deal with motorcycling's MotoGP.
Aramco doubles down on ICC deal after IPL exit
Saudi energy and chemicals companies Aramco has extended its global partnership with the International Cricket Council (ICC) for another four years
Riyadh Season grows international footprint in multi-faceted UFC alliance
Riyadh Season, the annual Saudi Arabian state-funded festival hosted in the capital, is continuing to branch out beyond its borders, with a new sponsorship deal struck with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
DAZN looks to flagship WTA, Fiba events in Mena to stir broadcast interest
Rights sales processes are being issued in Mena for WTA Tour and Fiba basketball, SportBusiness understands, as DAZN’s Broadcast Partnerships arm seeks to maximise the impact of major events in the region and end the Tour blackout.
ESL FACEIT agrees deal to develop Saudi esports masterplan
ESL FACEIT Group has agreed a wide-ranging five-year deal with Qiddiya City that will see it play a key role in the development of a gaming and esports district in Saudi Arabia.
DAZN steps in to show US Masters in Mena region
DAZN has continued in its attempts to carve out a niche in golf in a deal for exclusive rights to golf’s 2024 US Masters in the Middle East and North Africa.
UFC switches to Starzplay in Mena as UAE ties deepen
Starzplay has secured an exclusive multi-year deal for UFC rights in the Middle East and North Africa, a region in which the mixed martial arts behemoth has cemented its position over recent years
WTA follows ATP with closer Saudi ties as Finals head to Riyadh
The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has announced its season-ending WTA Finals will be staged in the Saudi capital Riyadh after it agreed a three-year deal with the Saudi Tennis Federation (STF).
Delayed UFC Saudi debut set for June after improved fight card
UFC will make its Saudi Arabia debut in June, three months later than envisaged after local organisers pushed back on the promotion's original plans to launch with a weak card.
DAZN to offer additional PGA Tour feeds across Mena, SE Asia
DAZN is to exclusively offer additional live feeds from the PGA Tour across 27 countries in the Middle East and North Africa and Southeast Asia, and will also distribute the Tour’s FAST (free ad-supported streaming TV) Channel.
Sony becomes founding partner of Saudi-backed Esports World Cup
The Sony Group has announced a multi-year agreement to become a founding partner of the Saudi-backed Esports World Cup, which takes place this summer in the kingdom’s capital city, Riyadh.
Five editions of expanded annual Fifa U17 World Cup awarded to Qatar
Fifa has continued the expansion of its international tournaments with the announcement that Qatar is to host the next five editions of an annual 48-team men’s U17 World Cup, with Morocco set to stage t…
Team goes to market in Israel, leaving Mena as main outlier
Broadcasters in Israel have been given five weeks to formulate their bids for media rights to Uefa club competitions in the country
ATP lands five-year PIF sponsorship across multiple properties
The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) has formed closer ties with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) in a multi-faceted sponsorship agreement unveiled today (Wednesday) but has stopped s…
BeIN recaptures F1 in Mena, adds Turkey in major 10-year deal
Pay-television broadcaster beIN Sports has agreed a 10-year deal for exclusive F1 rights across the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey, five years on from dropping rights in the Mena region over piracy concerns.
WTT nets Saudi Arabia as long-term host of elite Grand Smash
World Table Tennis (WTT), the commercial arm of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), has secured a major boost for its fledgling WTT series, after Saudi Arabia struck a multi-year deal to…
Matchroom makes 10-year Saudi pact with snooker’s fourth major
One of the world's richest snooker events is to take place in Saudi Arabia for the next 10 years, further strengthening the Matchroom Group's ties to the Kingdom
PepsiCo looks to cement market dominance with Saudi Pro League deal
PepsiCo has sought to cement its presence in Saudi Arabian football by announcing a deal to become a ‘Gold Partner’ of the Saudi Pro League.