Saudi Company for AI Launches AI League with Prizes of Up to SAR1 Mn to Advance Sports Innovation
Reinforcing Saudi Arabia's commitment to integrating advanced technologies into sports, the Saudi Company for Artificial Intelligence (SCAI) announced on Monday the launch of the AI League – a groundbreaking competition running from February 10 to the end of April 2025, with a total prize pool of SAR1 million. The initiative strengthens AI's role in revolutionizing sports and marks a significant leap forward for the industry.
In a statement, SCAI said the AI League aims to foster innovation, nurture talent in the sports sector, and elevate the Kingdom's global competitiveness in sports. It will also play a key role in advancing data-driven decision-making, optimizing operational efficiency, and delivering an exceptional fan experience, contributing to a more sustainable sports ecosystem.
The virtual competition will spotlight the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in enhancing sports performance and supporting Saudi Arabia's preparations to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. "Participants will compete across four key tracks: optimizing match strategies, developing smart sports venues and fan experiences, discovering sports talent, and advancing sports broadcasting and media," said the statement.
The initiative is supported by the Ministry of Sport and the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) as main sponsors, alongside leading organizations from the sports and technology sectors.
Chief Commercial Officer at SCAI Mubarak Alwadaani stated: "With the AI League, SCAI is fostering a dynamic environment where innovation thrives, leveraging cutting-edge artificial intelligence technologies to propel the sports sector forward."
"This initiative aligns with Vision 2030's goal of reshaping the global sports landscape through innovation and excellence. In collaboration with the Ministry of Sport and SDAIA, we invite talented developers, startups, and entrepreneurs to join the AI League and showcase their expertise to help shape the future of sports," he added.
The launch of the AI League reinforces SCAI's pivotal role in accelerating industry growth, positioning Saudi Arabia as a global hub for advanced technologies, and driving AI-powered solutions that create a meaningful impact across multiple sectors.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
17 hours ago
- Arab News
Palestine: From a penalty kick to the awakening of conscience
Palestine on Tuesday came within a hair's breadth of reaching the Asian playoff for the 2026 FIFA World Cup — only to be denied in the final seconds of their last qualifying match by a penalty kick. On the surface, it was a simple sporting moment. But at its core, it reflects the story of an entire people who have long been subjected to suffering — not because of any fault of their own, but because the scales of the world have never been fair to them. This moment takes us back to the year 1934, when Palestine — under its own name — lost to Egypt in the qualifiers for the second World Cup held in Italy, more than a decade before the establishment of Israel. The point here is that Palestine existed, was active and carried its sporting, cultural and political identity to the world. Today, it returns to the arena, still fighting — not only for sporting goals but for the right to exist and to live in dignity. However, the Palestinian cause has never been confined to a single field or arena. It is the story of a people displaced from their land and of a nation whose rights have long been violated amid prolonged global bias. Today, this suffering can no longer be reduced to images or news reports — it demands a direct call to the conscience of humanity. Human justice urgently requires an honest and impartial stance from every human being on Earth to stop the brutal and unjust war in Gaza and the repeated assaults and invasions of cities in the West Bank. Regardless of Oct. 7, which has been used by the current Israeli government as a pretext to justify mass killings and forced displacement in the form of ethnic cleansing, what is happening now has surpassed all boundaries of logic and humanity. Tens of thousands of innocent people have been killed and tens of thousands more have been injured, displaced or uprooted in a scene that cannot be justified under any circumstances. Palestinian suffering cannot be reduced to images or news reports — it demands a direct call to the conscience of humanity Dya-Eddine Said Bamakhrama What is happening in Gaza is no longer a conflict, it is a collapse of human values. We see the dead, the wounded, the thirsty and the hungry — children and adults, men and women — all of them innocent and defenseless. This calls for an immediate and comprehensive end to this senseless war, to save the remaining lives and prevent any further collapse of a tragedy whose origins did not begin on Oct. 7 but stretch back through decades of suffering. In this context, courageous positions by some of the nation's leaders stand out, reminding us that Palestine remains at the heart of Arab and Islamic conscience. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman affirmed in his speech to official Hajj guests the Kingdom's unwavering support for the Palestinian people's rights. He said: 'We reaffirm the importance of the international community's role in ending the disastrous consequences of this aggression, protecting innocent civilians, and working toward a new reality in which Palestine can enjoy peace in accordance with international legitimacy and relevant resolutions.' Similarly, President Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti, in his Eid Al-Adha message, reiterated his country's principled and firm stance in support of the Palestinian cause, affirming that this support will remain a cornerstone of Djibouti's foreign policy until the Palestinian people attain their right to self-determination through the establishment of an independent state. These two stances are not alone. There are many others that represent a genuine call to the world's conscience. Palestine is not asking for charity or momentary sympathy — it is demanding its legitimate rights and a response rooted in humanity before politics. From the pitch to the podium, from speeches to reality, Palestine remains the ultimate test of global conscience. Will the world pass this test — or will it write another chapter of betrayal? Palestine remains the ultimate test of global conscience. Will the world pass this test or write another chapter of betrayal? Dya-Eddine Said Bamakhrama Today, human justice demands the restoration of the Palestinian people's legitimate rights, the establishment of their state and an end to a humanitarian tragedy unmatched in modern history. Recognizing the rights of the Palestinian people and the establishment of their independent state on their national soil, with East Jerusalem as its capital, is the demand of all people of conscience. Living in peace in the Middle East and achieving development, security and dignity for all peoples without exception — including both Palestinians and Israelis — is a demand of the human conscience. And this can only be achieved through a just, comprehensive and lasting peace. The Arabs have offered numerous initiatives to end the Middle East conflict — the latest being the Arab Peace Initiative, which is based on land for peace and mutual recognition. Originally a Saudi proposal, it was unanimously supported by the Arab world and endorsed by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the second-largest international organization globally. But Israel has not engaged with this initiative or offered any alternatives. So, today we call upon the conscience of humanity: do not delay in supporting peace and justice before it is too late. Recognition of the Palestinian state and a two-state solution — today, not tomorrow — is an urgent path toward reviving the human conscience: a decisive penalty kick that ends the conflict and ushers in a new era of peace — driven by the awakening of a just global conscience. • Dya-Eddine Said Bamakhrama is Ambassador of the Republic of Djibouti and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Leaders
18 hours ago
- Leaders
FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Your Ultimate Guide
The FIFA 2025 Club World Cup kicks off in the United States on Saturday, with 32 teams vying for the title in the new-look expanded intercontinental club competition. Here's everything you need to know about the tournament. What is the FIFA Club World Cup? Until 2023, the FIFA Club World Cup was staged as an annual tournament every December and participation was limited to the winners of the continental club competitions, with the number ranging between six to eight clubs. Starting in 2025, football's governing body expanded the tournament to 32 teams and decided to run the revamped competition on a quadrennial cycle instead, similar to its showpiece FIFA World Cup. A new FIFA Intercontinental Cup replaced the old Club World Cup as an annual competition in December 2024 with Real Madrid winning the inaugural edition held in Qatar. How Does the New Format of the Competition work? Historically, the Club World Cup has featured no more than eight teams, but the 2025 edition is vastly different. This year's edition on US soil will be the first in the tournament's 24-year history to feature 32 clubs – the same number of teams as recent FIFA World Cups – including the winners of the four previous continental championships. The teams will be divided into eight groups of four competing in a round-robin group stage with the top two clubs from each group advancing to the knockouts, which begin with the round of 16 and end with the final. When is the FIFA Club World Cup? The competition will begin on 14 June, with the final scheduled for 13 July. Group stage: 14 to 26 June Round of 16: 28 June to 1 July Quarterfinals: 4 and 5 July Semifinals: 8 and 9 July Final: 13 July Which Teams Will Participate in the Club World Cup? Football fans in the US will enjoy watching popular clubs, including last season's UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid. Other notable teams include Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, ten-time English champions Manchester City, and Italian heavyweights Inter Milan. Qualified teams were determined by winners of continental club competitions, such as the Champions League, and confederation rankings. Lionel Messi's Inter Miami controversially earned a spot as a representative of the host nation. Inter Miami won the Supporters' Shield, awarded to the team with the best regular-season record. Of the 32 clubs, Europe (UEFA) boasts the most representation with 12 teams, followed by South America (CONMEBOL) with six. Asia (AFC), Africa (CAF), and North, Central America, and the Caribbean (CONCACAF) each have four teams. Oceania is represented by one club, while the final slot goes to the host nation's representative, Inter Miami. Mexican club Leon qualified by winning the CONCACAF Champions Cup in 2023 but was removed by FIFA due to an ownership rule breach. FIFA stated that Club Leon and another Mexican club, Pachuca, did not meet regulations on multi-club ownership. Pachuca's spot in the competition remained unaffected. After the Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected Leon's appeal, FIFA confirmed a playoff between Los Angeles FC and Mexican side Club America. Los Angeles FC won that playoff. Here is a list of the eight groups: Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Ahly, Inter Miami Palmeiras, Porto, Ahly, Inter Miami Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle Sounders Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle Sounders Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Los Angeles FC Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Los Angeles FC Group E: River Plate, Urawa Red Diamonds, Monterrey, Inter Milan River Plate, Urawa Red Diamonds, Monterrey, Inter Milan Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan Hyundai, Mamelodi Sundowns Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan Hyundai, Mamelodi Sundowns Group G: Manchester City, Wydad Casablanca, Al-Ain, Juventus Manchester City, Wydad Casablanca, Al-Ain, Juventus Group H: Real Madrid, Al-Hilal, Pachuca, FC Salzburg Why Are Barcelona and Liverpool Out? FIFA rules for the Club World Cup state that only two teams from each country can participate. European clubs' participation was determined by their performances in the Champions League over the last four seasons. Manchester City (2023) and Chelsea (2021) won the Champions League during that period, securing the two spots. Other popular clubs, such as Napoli, AC Milan, Barcelona, RB Leipzig, and Sevilla, missed out due to UEFA's four-year club coefficient rankings and two-team restrictions. What Are the Club World Cup Venues? The 63 matches will occur across 12 venues in 11 cities. The opening match, Ahly vs. Inter Miami, will take place at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, which has a capacity of 65,000. MetLife Stadium, home to the New York Giants and New York Jets, will host both the semifinals and the final. MetLife Stadium can accommodate 82,500 spectators and was also chosen as the venue for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. Pasadena's Rose Bowl, known for college American football, is the largest stadium with a capacity of 88,500. It has hosted significant events, including the football gold medal match at the Los Angeles Games in 1984 and the men's World Cup final a decade later. The Rose Bowl will also serve as a venue for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Here's the full list of venues: MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, New Jersey) Hard Rock Stadium (Miami, Florida) Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, Georgia) Lumen Field (Seattle, Washington) Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, North Carolina) TQL Stadium (Cincinnati, Ohio) Rose Bowl Stadium (Los Angeles, California) GEODIS Park (Nashville, Tennessee) Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida) Inter & Co Stadium (Orlando, Florida) Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) Audi Field (Washington, DC) FIFA Club World Cup venues Will the GOATS Messi, Ronaldo Take Part in the FIFA Club World Cup? Messi will participate, thanks to Inter Miami's surprise qualification after securing a place as the team with the most points in Major League Soccer's (MLS) regular season. Inter Miami broke MLS's regular-season points record with a 6-2 win over New England Revolution, reaching 74 points. New England had set the previous record in 2021 with 73 points. Meanwhile, Ronaldo and his Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr did not qualify for the tournament. However, FIFA President Gianni Infantino suggested that the Portugal star could switch to one of the participating teams. 'Cristiano Ronaldo might play in the Club World Cup,' Infantino told online streamer IShowSpeed in late May. 'There are discussions with some clubs, so if any club is watching and is interested in hiring Ronaldo for the Club World Cup, who knows? Still, a few weeks' time, will be fun.' However, Ronaldo clarified his position, stating, 'You can't take part in everything. You have to think about the short, medium, and long term. It's a decision practically made on my part not to go to the Club World Cup, but I've had quite a few invitations to go.' How Much is the Prize Money for the Tournament? The total prize pot is $1 billion, with champions earning up to $125 million. About half of the $1 billion will distribute among the 32 clubs, with amounts based on sporting and commercial criteria. This means clubs like Manchester City and Real Madrid will receive a greater percentage than smaller clubs, according to a model FIFA developed with the European Club Association. An additional $475 million will award based on performance. Therefore, the team with the most wins over a potential seven matches will earn more cash, with a maximum of $125 million available. How to Follow and Stream the Club World Cup Live? We will provide live photo and text commentary for a selection of the biggest group stage and knockout games. Online provider DAZN will stream the tournament worldwide, with territorial sublicensing to local free-to-air linear broadcast networks possible. Short link : Post Views: 1
Arab News
20 hours ago
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia a ‘pivotal force' in reshaping world football and sport, says US expert
LONDON: Saudi Arabia is playing a central role in transforming global football and wider sport, according to Middle East expert Kristian Coates Ulrichsen of the Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport Speaking to the Saudi Press Agency following the release of his new book 'Kingdom of Football: Saudi Arabia and the Remaking of World Soccer,' Ulrichsen said the Kingdom's rise in global sport is 'not a temporary shift but a broad transformation with political, economic, social, and cultural dimensions.' He continued: 'The Kingdom has undergone profound changes and has quickly and decisively entered the global sports arena through club acquisitions, sponsorship of major tournaments, and hosting high-profile events, notably the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2034.' Ulrichsen noted the country's long footballing heritage, with top-tier clubs approaching their centenary milestones and the national team having reached five consecutive AFC Asian Cup finals. He also highlighted Saudi clubs' strong record in continental competitions since the early 2000s. In the book, he stresses that sport, entertainment, and tourism form 'integral pillars of Vision 2030 and (are) essential to positioning Saudi Arabia as a global destination' in the coming years. 'Saudi Arabia's engagement with sports has generated global impact across football, boxing, Formula 1, and even cricket, tennis, and e-sports,' he added. 'These sectors are expected to dominate international discussions throughout the next decade leading up to 2034.'
