1. LeBron James backs Team AlUla at Luanda GP
NBA star and Team AlUla owner LeBron James travelled to Luanda, Angola, last weekend to support the Saudi-linked team at the E1 Luanda GP, marking his first visit to Africa. The race, held on September 12th -13th, was the fifth round of the 2026 UIM E1 World Championship.
Team AlUla entered the weekend third in the championship standings on 75 points, behind Team Brady and Westbrook Racing by Visit Angola. James’ presence added another layer of global sports visibility to the team, which combines the AlUla brand with E1’s all-electric powerboat racing format.
Why it matters: LeBron James’ presence puts Team AlUla at the intersection of Saudi sports investment, global sports ownership and E1’s international expansion. Team AlUla also recently joined the UNFCCC Sports for Climate Action Framework, reinforcing the team’s focus on electric marine mobility and sustainability beyond the racecourse.
What’s next : The Luanda weekend saw Team AlUla finish seventh, leaving the team to drop down one place to fourth in the championship standings on 84 points. With only two rounds to go – a double header in Miami to close off the 2026 season on the 13th and 14th of November, the focus now shifts to closing the gap at the top of the table.
2. Saudi Arabia prepares for the Asian Games
The 20th Asian Games commence 19th September in Nagoya, in the Aichi Prefecture in Japan. Saudi Arabia will be represented by a delegation of 144 athletes competing across 19 sports. The Games, which run till October 4th will bring together athletes from across Asia in one of the region’s biggest multi-sport events.
Saudi Arabia will compete in athletics, 5×5 basketball, boxing, equestrian, esports, fencing, football, jiu-jitsu, judo, karate, mixed martial arts, padel, shooting, squash, swimming, taekwondo, tennis, weightlifting, and wrestling.
A pre-Games training camp was established in Fuji, Japan, from August 29, giving athletes time to acclimatise and complete their final training. The 2026 games will be the Kingdom’s 12th participation in the history of the Asian Games. Saudi Arabia took home 10 medals – 4 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze , at the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2022.
Why it matters: The Asian Games provide a major international platform for Saudi athletes across a wide range of sports, reflecting the growing breadth of the Kingdom’s sporting landscape. With 19 sports represented, the Games also give emerging disciplines such as esports, padel, jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts an opportunity to compete on a major regional stage. For Saudi Arabia, the competition will provide a benchmark for its athletes ahead of further international events, while continuing to build experience and visibility across multiple disciplines.
What’s next : With competitions spread across the two-week Games, the focus will be on following Saudi athletes across the different disciplines and seeing where the Kingdom can build on its 2022 medal haul.
3. SEVEN launches Hot Wheels E-Karting experience in Tabuk
Saudi Entertainment Ventures (SEVEN) – a wholly owned subsidiary of Qiddiya Investment Company, has launched a new immersive Hot Wheels E-Karting experience at SEVEN TABUK, bringing electric karting to the region as part of its partnership with Mattel.
The experience features multi-level tracks and electric karts for adults, juniors and families. Dual karts are also available, catering for different skills and ages. It is also part of a wider rollout of Hot Wheels E-Karting experiences across Saudi Arabia, with previous plans covering six cities.
The entertainment destination in Tabuk opened in August following SEVEN Abha and plans to further expand across the country.
Why it matters:
Saudi Arabia has become a major destination for international motorsport, but developing a motorsport culture also means creating opportunities for people to experience racing themselves. Bringing karting into entertainment destinations could introduce a younger generation to competitive driving in a more accessible way.
What’s next:
The bigger question is whether experiences like these can become a pathway into grassroots motorsport – through karting competitions, talent identification or links with Saudi Arabia’s wider motorsport ecosystem.
4. Crown Prince Camel Festival comes to a close in Taif
The 8th Crown Prince Camel Festival wrapped up in Taif on the 13th of September after 11 days of racing. Organized by the Saudi Camel Racing Federation, the festival saw 248 races, more than 10,000 camels from 12 countries and prize money exceeding SAR 50 million.
The festival culminated in four major Al Saif and Al Bandaq trophy races, with a combined SAR 10.9 million in prizes. Saudi camels dominated the overall results, recording 131 race wins across the festival.
This year’s edition also introduced Saudi Production races, a new SAR 500,000 Crown Prince Camel Festival Cup for Saudi participants, and Mazayen (camel beauty) competitions for the first time.
The Saudi Camel Racing Federation has 10 championships and competitions scheduled across the 2026 – 27 season.
Why it matters: Camel racing is a heritage sport deeply rooted in Saudi culture. The Kingdom is increasingly developing it as a modern sporting and economic ecosystem. The festival shows how traditional competition is being combined with professionalisation, breeding, investment and new opportunities for Saudi participants.
What’s next: The camel racing season continues with the Saudi Camel Racing Federation Cup (Oct. 1 – 5), followed by the Saudi Olympic Camel Cup (Nov. 1 – 5). The King Abdulaziz Camel Racing Award runs through December, before the Ministry of Sport Camel Cup (Jan. 5 – 9, 2027) and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Camel Festival (Jan. 25 – Feb. 3, 2027).
5. Saudi rugby develops its coaching base
The Saudi Arabian Rugby Federation (SARF) is holding two World Rugby development courses this week. On September 18th, participants will take part in a World Rugby Level 1 Coaching 7s course, followed on September 19th by a Match Official course.
The coaching course will focus on developing the skills needed to coach rugby sevens – a faster, seven-player format that requires coaches to understand the technical and tactical demands of the game, as well as player development. The Match Official course is an entry point into World Rugby’s officiating development pathway. The Level 1 programme uses practical, game-based scenarios to teach participants how to observe play, make decisions, communicate effectively and referee safely. It is designed to introduce new officials to the fundamentals of officiating in both sevens and fifteens.
The courses are open to prospective coaches and match officials, who are essential to building the sport.
Why it matters: Coach development is one of the less visible parts of sports development – but arguably one of the most important. More qualified coaches mean greater capacity to introduce the sport to schools, communities and new players and to develop competitive teams.
What’s next:
SARF have opened registrations for the Kingdom Beach Rugby Championship which will be held on September 25th, 2026 in Fanateer Beach, Jubail. The SARF T-1 Tournament (Touch Rugby) which commenced its season September 11th, continues for all categories.
