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Arab News
10 hours ago
- Business
- Arab News
FSB Sports Show Riyadh spotlights exhibitors powering sports, leisure solutions for urban future
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's ambitious plans to be a center for world-class sports infrastructure and recreation spaces are gaining momentum, with more than $2 billion in committed investments and a projected $5.9 billion in sports sector revenue by 2030. With major international events, including the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027, Asian Winter Games in NEOM's Trojena in 2029, Riyadh Expo 2030, FIFA World Cup 2034 and the Asian Games in Riyadh in 2034 on the horizon, the Kingdom is accelerating development as part of Vision 2030. Aligned with this ambition, the inaugural FSB Sports Show Riyadh — organized by DMG Events and Koelnmesse — welcomed thousands of industry leaders and professionals this week at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center. Rob Hetherington, group business development director at Gebal Group, which was among the exhibitors, said: 'Saudi is our most important market that we are focusing on right now. 'We have been working in Saudi for five years now and have already developed over 40 to 50 outdoor spaces. So we have got a team that's growing into double figures. Our company has 400-plus people and we are going to rapidly grow into the Saudi market.' The company designs and supplies outdoor recreation areas and has developed skate parks for the Red Sea Project and at the Qiddiyah entertainment city, NEOM and Sports Boulevard, among other places. 'We delivered lots of fanzone spaces in Qatar for the World Cup. Our plan is to do the same thing for the World Cup in Saudi Arabia,' Hetherington said. Muhammed Kazi, senior vice president for construction at DMG, said: 'From active cities and giga-projects to school playgrounds and public parks, Saudi Arabia is transforming how it designs and delivers spaces for sports, wellness and recreation.' Denis Steker, senior international vice president at Koelnmesse, said: 'FSB is the international benchmark for innovations in sports and leisure facilities. As Saudi Arabia scales up investment across public parks, playgrounds or stadiums to increase the health and well-being of the public, now is the ideal time to bring this event to Riyadh.' At the show, which ran from Monday to Wednesday, Scott Van Der Kleij, sales director at exhibitor GreenFields, told Arab News: 'We are here to get a better understanding of what the Saudi market is and especially towards the FIFA World Cup 2034.' Ramsha Asghar, director for sports flooring at Neo Sports, said the event had 'been a really good opportunity to showcase our material and speak to really high-end individuals, and I am really excited for what's to come from the sports projects.' Bill Lennox, managing director at Yardex, which supplies artificial grass and is FIFA-certified, told Arab News he saw 'tremendous volume and potential for the product' in Saudi Arabia. The sports show was held concurrently with the International Hardware Fair Saudi Arabia. Gerald Bose, president and CEO of Koelnmesse, said: 'Launching both FSB Sports Show and International Hardware Fair marks a significant step in connecting global expertise with Saudi Arabia's rapidly advancing sectors.' With more than 200 exhibitors and brands, the FSB Sports Show supported the Kingdom's plans to develop inclusive and modern environments for community wellness and active living. Among the standout attractions were TeleiosX, which gave visitors the chance to experience competitive, full-motion racing on the show floor, and a virtual golf simulator presented by Marafei Almarefah.
Mid East Info
16-05-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
FSB Sports Show Riyadh capitalizes on Saudi Arabia's $2.7 billion sports infrastructure, fuelling growth for the Kingdom's leisure and sports industry
The event will host over 200 exhibitors from 25 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Poland, China, Spain, Germany and Qatar Companies such as Yardex, Coastal Qatar, Gebal Group will highlight integrated solutions in stadium development, safety and urban greenery In response to Saudi Arabia's unprecedented investment in sports infrastructure, dmg events and Koelnmesse have partnered to bring FSB Sports Show Riyadh – a satellite event of the leading trade fair FSB (Cologne, Germany) to the Kingdom. The inaugural edition of the event will take place from 16 – 18 June 2025 at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center (RICEC), welcoming industry professionals to explore key trends, discover innovations, exchange ideas with industry partners and find the right solutions for their current projects displayed by more than 200 exhibitors. Saudi Arabia is gearing up to host major sporting events like the FIFA World Cup 2034 and the Asian Winter Games in 2029. To support this, the Ministry of Sport, backed by the Saudi Royal Joint Ventures Foundation, has committed $2.7 billion towards building stadiums, leisure facilities and public spaces. This investment is part of the Kingdom's broader goal to become a leading international sports hub. In line with these ambitions, FSB Sports Show Riyadh will launch as the Kingdom's largest trade fair focused on the development of the sports and leisure sector and shaping the future of public spaces and urban living environments. Advancing Saudi Arabia's sports and leisure sectors With Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia is transforming its sports and leisure industries to align with its broader economic diversification goals. FSB Sports Show Riyadh highlights global innovations, supporting strategic partnerships, with a focus on sports infrastructure, leisure facilities and public spaces. As the Kingdom bids for major championships, the event will showcase advancements in stadium construction, accessibility, urban planning and sports technologies. 'Saudi Arabia's sports sector is on an exciting journey, with a market value projected to grow from $8 billion today to $22.4 billion by 2030 (Source: SURJ Sports Investment ). Major sports infrastructure projects and a surge in public and private sector investment power this growth,' said Muhammed Kazi, Senior Vice President – Construction, dmg events. 'Our collaboration with Koelnmesse to launch FSB Sports Show Riyadh brings global expertise to this vibrant market, supporting the Kingdom's 2030 ambitions and creating a launchpad for innovation and partnerships within the country's booming sports industry.' The event is expected to attract strong interest from key players in the market. Some of the top exhibitors, including Yardex, Greenfields, Coastal Qatar, Gebal Group, City Playgrounds, among others, will highlight integrated solutions in stadium development, safety, urban greenery and more, offering public and private stakeholders a direct avenue to scale their contributions to the sector. Over 200 exhibitors from more than 25 countries, including Poland, China, Germany, Saudi Arabia and the UAE among others will showcase products from planning to asset delivery. 'Koelnmesse is honoured to partner with dmg events to bring FSB Sports Show Riyadh, aligning with the Kingdom's long-term vision for urban living and public wellbeing. Our research shows that Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 goes far beyond major events like the FIFA World Cup 2034, it's about sustainable investment in grassroots, school and public sports infrastructure to foster health and inspire the next generation,' said Denis Steker, Senior Vice President International , Koelnmesse. CPD-certified learning tailored for impact Supporting the ongoing development of Saudi Arabia's sports infrastructure ecosystem, FSB Sports Show Riyadh will host CPD-certified content programmes and Saudi Sports & Leisure Summit , designed to educate, inspire and elevate industry professionals across the sports and leisure landscape. Attendees can expect curated sessions led by regional and international experts, including economists, investment strategists and more, exploring pressing topics such as sustainable design in sports facilities, inclusive urban planning, emerging technologies and policy frameworks shaping the future of sports infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. With a strong focus on real-world applications and future-ready strategies, these sessions are structured to support the Kingdom's vision of becoming a global leader in sports and wellness infrastructure. FSB Sports Show Riyadh will be co-located with International Hardware Fair Saudi Arabia.
