LONDON – Saudi Arabia will host an international golf tournament for the first time next year.

A European Tour event will be staged at the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City. The details of the tournament will be announced later.

CEO of King Abdullah Economic City Fahd Bin Abdulmohsin Al-Rasheed oversaw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the General Sports Authority (GSA) and the European Professional Golfers Association (PGA) in London on Thursday, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

The MoU comes within the visit of Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, to the United Kingdom. It also comes within efforts by the GSA to organize and host more international sports events, including attracting and hosting the most important international golf championships to the Kingdom.

At the signing ceremony, the Saudi side was represented by Prince Abdulaziz Bin Turki Al-Faisal, deputy chairman of the GSA and the managing director and CEO of King Abdullah Economic City. The CEO of the European Professional Golfers Association Keith Billy represented the European side.

During the past few weeks, the Kingdom hosted several important international sports events and championships. These come within the GSA’s endeavors to diversify sports activities and strengthen the Kingdom’s position at the international level.

The Saudi Golf Federation was reshuffled last November under the chairmanship of Yasser Al-Rumayyan.

The Royal Green Club and Golf Course King Abdullah Economic City overlooking the Red Sea is deemed to be one of the best golf courses in the region. It has bagged several international prizes, including the best sports tourist project in the world. — SG/SPA