SAUDI ARABIA - Sports
President, Saudi Tennis Federation
Bio
Arij Hamed Almutabagani is a pioneering figure in Saudi sports, currently serving as President of the Saudi Tennis Federation. A graduate of King Abdulaziz University with a degree in Business Administration, she has held leadership roles in healthcare, including positions at the New Jeddah National Hospital and the Boards of Jeddah and Madinah National Hospitals. In 1989, she spearheaded the establishment and management of the Sports, Rehabilitation, and Fitness Center at the New Jeddah Clinic Hospital. Beyond healthcare, Arij manages the real estate division of her family group. A lifelong tennis enthusiast, her personal experience as a player and her children’s involvement in international tennis academies have fueled her contributions to tennis development in Saudi Arabia. Her leadership extends to roles within the Arab and Asian Tennis Federations, ITF Committees, and the ATF, demonstrating her commitment to advancing tennis both regionally and globally.
I was honored to become the first-ever elected female president of a sports federation in Saudi Arabia, which marked a pivotal moment for the Saudi Tennis Federation. When I was elected in 2021, the Federation Transformation Program had already been initiated under the leadership of Prince Abdulaziz, Minister of Sport, and President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee. This program introduced clear KPIs, a well-defined strategy, and incentive-based benchmarks to elevate the operational and technical standards of federations. This initiative coincided with the rapid expansion of sports federations in Saudi Arabia, growing from around 50 to 94, and provided the framework we needed to rejuvenate tennis in the country. Our focus has been on fostering inclusivity, particularly emphasizing female participation across all levels of tennis. When I assumed this role, tennis was stagnant in Saudi Arabia despite its long history. We addressed this by launching programs aimed at increasing the number of female players, officials, and workforce representation. For example, we introduced the Juniors National Gold Scheme, which enabled female players to represent Saudi Arabia internationally for the first time at events like the Billie Jean King Cup in Sri Lanka and Bahrain. Seeing the excitement and enthusiasm of our female players has been a rewarding experience, and it has driven clubs to establish more female teams to compete locally and internationally. Additionally, we have significantly increased female representation within the Federation itself. Four out of nine board members are women, exceeding the minimum 30% benchmark aligned with Vision 2030. This inclusivity extends to hiring female supervisors and officials at key centers across the Kingdom. Our focus on gender diversity is supported by leadership development initiatives and collaborations with organizations like LDI, which provide training for coaches, officials, and sports professionals.
Building strong relationships with organizations like the International Tennis Federation (ITF), ATP, and WTA has been a cornerstone of our strategy. It took three years of consistent effort to establish Saudi Arabia as a credible partner, though the results have been remarkable. In 2023, we secured the ATP Next Gen Finals for five years and, more recently, a three-year agreement to host the prestigious WTA Finals. These partnerships bring invaluable opportunities for knowledge exchange and showcase Saudi Arabia’s potential on the global tennis stage. On a regional level, I serve on the boards of the Asian Tennis Federation and the Arab Tennis Federation, which allows us to collaborate on initiatives to develop tennis in West Asia. For example, we are working with ITF to establish a West Asia training center in Saudi Arabia, providing specialized training for juniors and facilitating international tournaments. These tournaments are essential for developing our players’ skills and allowing them to gain exposure without bearing the financial burden of traveling abroad.
Saudi Arabia has made significant strides in hosting international tournaments, starting with our first ITF Grade 5 tournament in Jeddah in 2022. This marked a turning point, as it allowed Saudi players to gain ITF rankings without traveling abroad. Since then, we have expanded to three tournaments annually, resulting in Saudi Arabia now having multiple ITF-ranked players. These tournaments are critical for nurturing local talent, as regular exposure to international competition improves performance and confidence. We currently organize around 40 tournaments annually, encompassing national teams, individual players, juniors, and women’s categories. However, playing against the same opponents locally has its limitations. By hosting international events, we provide our players with the opportunity to compete against higher-caliber athletes, accelerating their development.
Engaging the youth is central to our mission. Hosting major events like the ATP Next Gen Finals has helped us attract public interest through community engagement initiatives. For instance, we have organized tennis festivals in parks, malls, and clubs to celebrate occasions like National Day. Additionally, we hold friendly women’s tournaments and events tied to awareness campaigns, such as Cancer Day, to promote inclusivity and participation. We are also focused on leveraging major events to transfer knowledge to local talent. For example, during the Next Gen Finals, we provided opportunities for a Saudi physiotherapist to shadow ATP professionals and enhance her skills. Similarly, through the WTA, we introduced the Future Stars program, where 16 of our top female juniors received intensive training, education, and mentorship. These initiatives inspire young players by exposing them to the possibilities within the tennis ecosystem, whether as players, coaches, or administrators.
Infrastructure development is critical for the sport’s growth. Currently, many of our international events are held in temporary venues, which underscores the need for permanent, world-class facilities. I have been advocating for a national training center that can host high-performance camps, international tournaments, and grassroots programs. Such a facility would enable us to centralize training for elite players and provide holistic development, including physical fitness, mental coaching, and academics. Thanks to having a long-term commitment for sustainable growth, the Ministry of Sport has been very receptive to this approach, and plans are underway to allocate land near King Abdullah Sports City for sports federations to build permanent facilities. This initiative aligns with Vision 2030’s emphasis on creating sustainable sports ecosystems. Our aim is to ensure that these facilities are versatile enough to host various levels of tournaments, from junior competitions to high-profile international events.
We have been studying successful models like Italy’s, where a very strong and unified coaching methodology has created a consistent pipeline of talented players. The Italian Tennis Federation has been a valuable partner, and we are collaborating with it to bring its expertise to Saudi Arabia. Similarly, we are looking at China’s approach, which focused heavily on infrastructure development and has produced ATP and WTA champions. By combining these models, we aim to create a system tailored to Saudi Arabia’s unique needs, ensuring long-term success.
Our primary goal is to inspire 1 million people to engage with tennis by 2030, encompassing players, coaches, and other roles within the tennis ecosystem. To achieve this, we are focusing on grassroots development and youth programs. This includes increasing the number of international junior tournaments, enhancing coaching structures, and closely monitoring the progress of young talent. We are also introducing high-profile events to further elevate Saudi tennis. Moreover, we are currently negotiating to host the first Orange Bowl qualification tournament outside of the US, starting from 2025. This prestigious junior tournament will provide our players with an invaluable opportunity to compete on a global stage. Additionally, we are hosting the ITF Annual General Meeting and a Davis Cup tie against Ireland, further solidifying Saudi Arabia’s position in the international tennis community.
The next decade will be transformative for Saudi tennis. By combining love of the game, the fresh energy of our young people, new infrastructure investment, international partnerships, and grassroots initiatives, we aim to establish Saudi Arabia as a major tennis hub. While producing world-class players is a long-term objective, our immediate focus is on creating a robust ecosystem that supports all aspects of the sport. From inspiring the next generation to hosting world-class events, we are committed to making tennis an integral part of Saudi Arabia’s sporting culture. We have real momentum and a clear strategy and all of this could not have been possible without the constant support of HRH Prince Abdulaziz Bin Turki Al Faisal and his diligent team at the Ministry and the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee.
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SAUDI ARABIA - Tourism
Interview
Director, UN Tourism Regional Office for the Middle East