Tensions in the Middle East are casting uncertainty over the region’s ability to host major sporting events, raising concerns about the viability of multibillion-dollar investments by Gulf monarchies. The resumption of conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels has underscored security challenges facing upcoming tournaments and international competitions.
Last week, approximately 60,000 spectators attended the Arabian Gulf Cup football tournament in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, despite the collapse of a four-year ceasefire between Saudi forces and the Houthis. The ceasefire initially followed a Houthi attack on an oil facility near the Jeddah Formula One track. Shortly after the tournament began, a Houthi air strike on Riyadh’s international airport resulted in three fatalities, including a Saudia Airlines captain, highlighting the ongoing risks to civilian and sporting infrastructure.
Security analysts warn that repeated strikes on Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states—including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman—threaten the region’s ambitious sports calendar. Key future events at risk include the 2030 Asian Games in Qatar, the 2034 FIFA World Cup, and the Asian Games scheduled for Saudi Arabia. International relations expert Guy Burton noted the “volatility” of the region complicates security planning, distinguishing it from prior global events that also faced significant challenges.
Beyond immediate threats, the Gulf states’ economic diversification strategies, heavily reliant on sports investments, face mounting pressure. These countries have funneled tens of billions of dollars into infrastructure projects such as stadiums, hotels, airports, and airlines to reduce their dependence on oil and gas revenues. However, the instability raises concerns about potential underutilization of these assets. Burton emphasized that economic uncertainty stemming from the conflict could jeopardize the underlying financial models supporting these efforts.
Recent disruptions illustrate these risks. The Bahrain and Saudi Formula One Grand Prix races, originally slated for April, were postponed and moved to Malaysia, with estimated financial losses near US$200 million. Earlier, the Finalissima football match between Spain and Argentina, scheduled in Qatar, was canceled, and the Esports Nations Cup was relocated from Saudi Arabia to France. These shifts also cast doubt over the Public Investment Fund’s US$55 billion acquisition of EA Sports, the largest deal of its kind.
Rice University’s Baker Institute fellow Kristian Coates Ulrichsen highlighted the AFC Asian Cup set for Saudi Arabia in early 2027 as a critical test for the region’s capacity to manage large-scale events amid continued instability. The tournament’s execution will be closely scrutinized and may influence the future of events such as the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Qatar later that year.
Simon Chadwick, professor of Afro-Eurasian sport at Emlyon Business School, underscored the necessity of regional stability for long-term sports ambitions in the Gulf. He warned that ongoing conflict threatens major upcoming events—including the 2030 and 2034 Asian Games, the 2034 FIFA World Cup, and Qatar’s bid for the 2036 Olympics. Qatar’s substantial US$240 billion investment in infrastructure for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, intended for reuse in future competitions, could be undermined by political volatility. By comparison, Saudi Arabia is investing approximately US$22 billion in venues for the 2034 World Cup. Chadwick described the current environment as presenting “challenging historic strategic decisions” for the region’s sports sector.
As conflicts continue, event organizers, investors, and governments face mounting pressure to balance ambitions for international sports prominence with the realities of a fragile security landscape in the Middle East.