Ben Harburg

Vision, Velocity, Victory: The Sports Investment Playbook | Middle East & Africa Summit 2025

Dhani Jones, Ben Harburg, Jamie Salter, Danny Townsend, Susie Wolff

Over $60 billion in capital from Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds is reshaping the global sports landscape by transforming the region into a neutral hub for investment comparable to Silicon Valley. This influx drives a strategic shift from traditional linear broadcasting to digital direct-to-consumer models while supporting economic diversification under Crown Prince vision, alongside landmark investments in the PFL, PGA Tour, and Saudi Pro League. Concurrently, the sector is leveraging high-quality content like "Drive to Survive" to fuel a projected $1 trillion women's sports market by 2030 and identifying Africa and India as the next major growth engines for talent and commerce.