Qatar, Uae And Saudi Arabia Shape The Future Of Sports Tourism In The Gcc, Here’s All You Need To Know

Published on October 20, 2025

Middle Eastern PwC estimates that by 2030, nan Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries will beryllium targeting seizure much of nan athletics tourism world marketplace worthy 2 trillion dollars. Sports tourism is processing quickly, and pinch much world tourists, much athletics travels, and amended athletics tourism facilities, nan region will surely beryllium capable to profit and create their tourism marketplace which revolves astir sports events.

Growing Market: Sports Tourism connected nan Rise

Sports tourism is already a important contributor to world tourism, making up 10% of nan full tourism spend. With an yearly maturation complaint of 17.5%, this assemblage is projected to spot important description successful nan coming years. According to PwC’s analysis, nan GCC’s existent stock of nan sports tourism marketplace stands astatine 5-7%, but this is expected to summation arsenic nan region shifts from simply hosting large-scale events to establishing year-round, experience-driven sports destinations.

This displacement comes arsenic nary surprise, fixed nan rising request for immersive and sustainable recreation experiences. Recent traveler investigation from Expedia and Hilton highlights that sports tourism is becoming a cardinal facet successful recreation decisions. Expedia’s information reveals that 86% of UAE travelers are apt to be a unrecorded sporting event, and Hilton’s 2025 Trends Report shows that 45% of visitors scheme full holidays astir sports aliases intermezo fixtures.

These trends bespeak that nan region is well-positioned to capitalize connected nan booming sports tourism marketplace by creating experiences that pull visitors passim nan year, beyond conscionable marquee events.

Saudi Arabia Leads nan Charge successful Sports Tourism Growth

Saudi Arabia is astatine nan forefront of nan GCC’s push into nan sports tourism sector. The kingdom’s sports marketplace is forecast to turn significantly, from US$8 cardinal to US$22.4 cardinal by 2030. This singular maturation is driven by awesome investments successful caller sports venues, nan emergence of esports, and nan hosting of world events specified arsenic nan 2034 FIFA World Cup.

PwC predicts that this description will create 39,000 jobs and adhd US$13.3 cardinal to Saudi Arabia’s GDP. The kingdom has already made important strides successful hosting large-scale events, specified arsenic nan 2025 Esports World Cup, which attracted 3 cardinal attendees, including 300,000 world visitors. This surge successful sports-related tourism is simply a clear motion that Saudi Arabia’s investments are paying off, transforming nan kingdom into a world sports hub.

In summation to accepted sports events, Saudi Arabia is besides tapping into nan quickly increasing esports marketplace to prosecute younger audiences and widen tourism passim nan year. With its indoor, air-conditioned venues and digital-first approach, Saudi Arabia has managed to create a sports tourism offering that appeals to visitors sloppy of nan season.

The Impact of Major Sports Events connected Regional Tourism

The GCC’s increasing power successful nan world sports tourism marketplace is already evident. Major sporting events held crossed nan region person had a profound effect connected world tourism. For example, nan Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix successful nan UAE is simply a premier illustration of really sports events thrust tourism. In 2024, nan arena boosted world visitant spending by 34% and attracted 133,000 visitors from 178 countries. Hotel rates successful Abu Dhabi surged by arsenic overmuch arsenic 170% compared to non-race weeks, highlighting nan economical benefits generated by nan event.

The UAE’s Formula 1 Grand Prix has besides go a exemplary for fan-driven tourism, demonstrating nan imaginable for different GCC countries to create akin fan-focused experiences. The occurrence of these events has led to much world travelers visiting neighboring cities for illustration Dubai and Riyadh, particularly for large-scale events, frankincense benefiting nan full region.

Similarly, nan 2022 FIFA World Cup successful Qatar showcased nan region’s capacity to pull world visitors. The tourney led to a 30% emergence successful arrivals crossed nan GCC, pinch cities specified arsenic Dubai, Riyadh, and Manama seeing important increases successful tourism arsenic fans traveled betwixt various destinations for matches. This demonstrated nan imaginable for sports events to thrust cross-border tourism and further cement nan GCC arsenic a go-to destination for world sports fans.

Diversifying nan Offer: Esports, Women’s Sports, and Cultural Festivals

While accepted sports events proceed to tie world attention, location is simply a increasing nickname of nan imaginable of esports, women’s sports, and multi-day festivals that harvester sports pinch taste and unit experiences. Esports, successful particular, is gaining traction successful nan GCC, pinch Saudi Arabia and nan UAE investing heavy successful integer sports venues, tournaments, and esports-related infrastructure.

Esports attracts a younger demographic that is highly engaged successful integer gaming and online competitions. As PwC’s study highlights, esports is simply a cardinal opportunity for nan region to support year-round tourism momentum, particularly fixed nan GCC’s utmost summertime temperatures, which limit outdoor activities. In addition, nan region is seeing an summation successful women’s sports events, contributing to a much inclusive sports tourism landscape.

Furthermore, multi-day sports festivals that harvester sports pinch retail, culture, and intermezo are emerging arsenic celebrated attractions. These festivals not only widen nan magnitude of visitors’ stays but besides connection a assortment of experiences that spell beyond watching a azygous event. This inclination helps diversify nan region’s sports tourism offering and caters to a broader scope of travelers.

Developing Sports Tourism arsenic a Year-Round Destination

PwC advises GCC destinations to attraction connected processing immersive sports experiences that spell beyond nan arena itself. Integrating sports into nan broader tourism and municipality readying strategies will guarantee sustainable visitant maturation passim nan year. To support momentum and proceed attracting world tourists, destinations request to leverage integer innovations, heighten instrumentality engagement, and create seamless location recreation links.

Peter Daire, Senior Executive Advisor astatine PwC Middle East, emphasized that hosting world events is conscionable nan beginning. The adjacent shape is to build broad sports destinations that tin pull fans year-round. This requires a attraction connected creating richer experiences, leveraging integer platforms for instrumentality engagement, and ensuring that sports tourism is integrated into wider tourism and municipality strategies.

The Future of GCC Sports Tourism

The GCC countries are processing successful sports tourism and will go world frontrunners successful nan industry. Focusing connected immersive each twelvemonth information experiences, expanding investments successful esports, and a larger events almanac are nan reasons for nan region for being a vacation spot for sports tourists.

The GCC will beryllium a world sports tourism leader by 2030. It will pull millions of visitors each year, amended nan economy, and go a apical destination for sports fans. The adjacent decade will see unthinkable advancements and nan region will go a apical destination for sports tourism which is simply a important portion of world travel.