KAEC — Signaling its continued commitment to supporting the Saudi International Presented by SoftBank Investment Advisors, the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) Thursday announced the continuation of its partnership with The European Tour event.

The Saudi International Presented by SoftBank Investment Advisors was the first European Tour event to be played in Saudi Arabia in 2019 and returns for its second year on Thursday at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club. One of the strongest fields on the European Tour will tee it up, including current world No.1 Brooks Koepka, and reigning champion and current world No. 5 Dustin Johnson.

The Saudi International marked a significant success last year, alongside a full calendar of events that have taken place in the Kingdom recently that demonstrate the potential the sport and entertainment sectors offer investors.

Commenting on the partnership, SAGIA Governor Ibrahim Al-Omar said: “Saudi Arabia’s large youth population is becoming more interested in sport and we are committed to supporting this area. Not only does The Saudi International help showcase the growing opportunities for sport in the Kingdom, but it also gives the world a glimpse of the beauty of Saudi Arabia with some spectacular scenery on the Red Sea coast that many people would never have seen before.”

The Saudi International Presented by SoftBank Investment Advisors will be broadcast in 45 countries across the world, reaching 450 million homes through more than 30 global broadcasters.

Saudi Arabia aims to become the leading and most competitive sports economy in the region, with the aim of generating 140,000 jobs in the sector by 2030, with an annual contribution to GDP of SR25 billion. To achieve this, the Kingdom is targeting a compounded growth rate of around 30% over the coming five years.

SAGIA is at the forefront of developing the country’s investment proposition, taking the lead in attracting international business opportunities whilst also bolstering national economic growth.

Yasir Bin Othman Al Rumayyan, chairman of the Saudi Golf Federation, is delighted that SAGIA will once again be supporting the Saudi International: “We are proud to have SAGIA as a partner of the event again, after the huge success of the inaugural event last year. Our partnership with SAGIA means we can continue to support golf development in the Kingdom, while helping to support their work showcasing Saudi Arabia as a destination for international business development.” — SG