Ministry of Sport Announces Privatization of First Three Clubs (Al-Zulfi, Al-Kholood, and Al-Ansar) and Opens the Door for Further Club Privatizations
24 Jul 2025
The Ministry of Sport, in collaboration with the National Center for Privatization & PPP (NCP), announced today Thursday the privatization of the first three Saudi sports clubs through a public offering: Al-Ansar, Al-Kholood, and Al-Zulfi. Ownership of these clubs has been transferred to investment entities, following the August 2024 announcement that six clubs would be offered for privatization. These include Al-Ansar, Al-Okhdood, Al-Kholood, Al-Zulfi, Al-Orobah, and Al-Nahda, as part of the second phase of the Sports Clubs Investment and Privatization Project.
This milestone follows the completion of all regulatory procedures, with the NCP overseeing the establishment of private companies for each club and facilitating the transfer of ownership. Under the new structure, Al-Zulfi Club will be owned by “Nojoom Al-Salam Company,” Al-Kholood Club will be owned by “Harburg Group,” and Al-Ansar Club will be owned by “Oudah Al-Baladi & Sons Company.”
The Ministry also announced the completion of the proposal submission phase for Al-Nahda Club, after an extension was granted at the request of interested investors. These proposals are currently under review. Meanwhile, investors interested in Al-Okhdood and Al-Orobah clubs did not meet the necessary requirements and conditions. The Ministry emphasized its commitment to ensuring the success of the privatization process by accepting only proposals that serve the long-term interests of the clubs, contribute to their professional development, and align with the strategic goals of the initiative.
The privatization process has gone through several key stages, beginning with the submission of expressions of interest and qualification requests, followed by the evaluation of those submissions, and then the receipt and assessment of technical and financial offers from qualified investors. The final stage involved the selection of the best offers and the announcement of results.
In addition, the Ministry has opened the door for new expressions of interest from investment entities seeking to acquire other Saudi sports clubs. Interested parties may apply through the official Ministry of Sport website. Each request will be subject to a readiness assessment of the club, followed by an evaluation of investor offers, and finally the launch of a public bidding process.
This move reflects the Ministry’s ongoing efforts in recent years to enhance performance efficiency, improve financial and administrative governance within sports clubs, and foster meaningful partnerships with the private sector. It supports the broader goal of building a professional and competitive sports sector that contributes to achieving the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
The Ministry also announced the completion of the proposal submission phase for Al-Nahda Club, after an extension was granted at the request of interested investors. These proposals are currently under review. Meanwhile, investors interested in Al-Okhdood and Al-Orobah clubs did not meet the necessary requirements and conditions. The Ministry emphasized its commitment to ensuring the success of the privatization process by accepting only proposals that serve the long-term interests of the clubs, contribute to their professional development, and align with the strategic goals of the initiative.
The privatization process has gone through several key stages, beginning with the submission of expressions of interest and qualification requests, followed by the evaluation of those submissions, and then the receipt and assessment of technical and financial offers from qualified investors. The final stage involved the selection of the best offers and the announcement of results.
In addition, the Ministry has opened the door for new expressions of interest from investment entities seeking to acquire other Saudi sports clubs. Interested parties may apply through the official Ministry of Sport website. Each request will be subject to a readiness assessment of the club, followed by an evaluation of investor offers, and finally the launch of a public bidding process.
This move reflects the Ministry’s ongoing efforts in recent years to enhance performance efficiency, improve financial and administrative governance within sports clubs, and foster meaningful partnerships with the private sector. It supports the broader goal of building a professional and competitive sports sector that contributes to achieving the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
