New details emerge on draft Sports Law

The Official Gazette published details of the draft Sports Law.

The Official Gazette published details of the draft Sports Law, approved by the Saudi cabinet.

According to the cabinet’s decision, individuals and entities subject to the articles of the draft law must rectify their situations in accordance with their requirements within one year of its entry into force. The Minister of Sport may extend this period for a similar duration.

The law stipulates that the Ministry of Sport and sports entities, each within its respective remit, will work to develop the sports sector, increase participation, support athletes, coaches, referees, and administrators, enhance their capabilities, develop and refine talent, support sports technologies and related research, contribute to the advancement of sports medicine, and encourage private- and non-profit-sector participation. The ministry will coordinate with sports entities and relevant authorities to achieve these objectives.

The ministry will also coordinate with government, private, and non-profit entities to encourage employees to engage in sports through available means, in accordance with the law and its regulations.

Under Article 6, the ministry is required to establish and regularly update a comprehensive database covering all aspects of the sports sector and to make relevant data and statistics available to investors and other stakeholders, in line with the regulations.

The Ministry of Sport will also coordinate with the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Investment, with respect to foreign investment, as well as other relevant authorities, to set requirements for approvals related to mergers, acquisitions, and the disposal of ownership rights of sports companies, including clubs and leagues structured as corporate entities, in line with the ministry’s strategy for the sector.