Source: Pexels
A quick scout of the Mixed Martial Arts events taking place in Saudi Arabia shows a vast fixture list. There are more events taking place than any fan could hope for, with the PFL Mena Finals and Battle of the Giants in one month alone. As the Global Gulf Council looks to turn the region into a modern entertainment hub, Saudi Arabia has long set its sights on MMA, and it may be about to become the epicentre for the sport.
Why Combat Sports?
Saudi Arabia is attempting to reposition itself on the global stage. Once rich with oil, as the world pivots to renewables, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is attempting to diversify the economy. This is being done through a program known as Vision 2023, and a large part of this is to attract sporting activity to the country.
Billions have been poured into infrastructure, new stadiums, and major events as a result. As one of the fastest-growing sports on earth, MMA is an obvious choice. This has seen the country establish the “Riyadh Season”, which mixes major MMA events with other combat sports like boxing.
The GCC Attracting New Entertainment Forms
The wider Gulf area is also currently undergoing a change in its provision for entertainment. In an attempt to attract tourists, it is putting on events that may previously have been unheard of outside the sporting realm. A perfect example is the Riyadh Comedy Festival, which took place between late September and early October. It attracted some of the world’s most cutting-edge comedians, including Chris Tucker, Jimmy Carr, and Louis CK.
Gaming has also been a focus for the GCC, particularly in Saudi Arabia. As part of the country’s Vision 2030 initiative, it set up the Saudi Esports Federation. This has made it host the Esports World Cup twice, and the city was in the running to host the first Esports Olympics until time constraints pushed this back.
Some believe these wider changes in the entertainment industry mean other sectors like online betting and casino content may become more widely available in the region. Platforms are beginning to introduce country-based guides that can they can provide information on gameplay and platform trends, suggesting changes to the industry in the GCC.
UFC in Saudi Arabia
Source: Pexels
Ultimate Fighting Championship is arguably the most well-known brand in MMA. It has recently had two major events, which were held in Saudi Arabia. The first was UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. Aliskerov, which took place at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh in June 2024. While a spectacular show, many changes to the card at the last minute meant it did not go down with international fans as well as hoped.
This led to a second outing, UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Imavov. This took place in February 2025 and was a much more successful affair, with a major Middleweight bout headlining the event. This time, the action took place at the ANB Arena in Riyadh.
Events like this will continue coming to Saudi Arabia. However, in a cooling global economy, it may be hard to attract those who need to travel and pay for accommodation in the country. If a desire to attend can be brought to those at home, it may bring a more sustainable economy.