The Saudi Football Association, represented by its exclusive commercial partner “SMC Vibes”, announced the signing of an agreement with “Al Rai” Media Group, under which it will become an official partner to host the thirteenth edition of the Saudi Super Cup for the 2026-2027 season, scheduled to be held in Kuwait during the period from 19 to 23 December.
The agreement was signed, Monday, in Riyadh, in the presence of Sheikh Ahmed Al-Yousef Al-Sabah, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Kuwait Football Association, and Badr Al-Ruzaiza, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Football Association, along with representatives of partner entities.
The championship competitions will be held at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium with the participation of four clubs: Al-Nasr, Al-Koloud, Al-Ahly and Al-Qadisiyah, while the draw for the tournament will be held next October 14 to determine the two semi-final matches.
Sheikh Ahmed Al-Yousef Al-Sabah welcomed Kuwait's hosting of the Saudi Super Cup, stressing that the tournament represents an addition to the Gulf sports scene, and looking forward to presenting a distinctive version worthy of the status of the tournament and the teams participating in it.
The President of the Kuwaiti Federation stressed that hosting reflects the depth of the brotherly relations between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, in light of the great follow-up and interest that Saudi football enjoys among the Kuwaiti fans.
For his part, Badr Al-Ruzaiza stressed the importance of the Saudi Super Cup within the Federation’s competition system, explaining that work is continuing to develop the tournament and enhance its public and commercial presence.
He added that holding the next edition in Kuwait represents a historic opportunity to enhance the tournament’s presence in the Gulf and reach a wider segment of audiences, in addition to building qualitative partnerships that contribute to developing its value and supporting the sustainability and development of Saudi football.
Sultan Al Sheikh, CEO of SMC Vibes, said that hosting the Saudi Super Cup in Kuwait represents a new step towards expanding the tournament’s presence and enhancing its commercial value, thus achieving great value for the tournament, its partners and its fans.
In turn, Rashid Al-Humairi, CEO of Al-Rai Media Group, expressed his happiness with the partnership in hosting the Saudi Super Cup, stressing the group’s aspiration to work with the Saudi Football Association and SMC Vibes to present a distinctive version that keeps pace with the status of the tournament and the amount of interest that Saudi football enjoys among the Kuwaiti public.
Holding the tournament in Kuwait carries a Gulf dimension that goes beyond sports competition, in light of the close fraternal and historical relations between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, and the social and geographical closeness that links the peoples of the two countries, in addition to the shared passion for football, which gives the tournament a distinctive public atmosphere and enhances its presence at the Gulf level.
Kuwait is the eighth stop in the Saudi Super Cup journey, which since its inception has moved between a number of cities locally and internationally, from Mecca, Riyadh, Jeddah and Abha to London, Abu Dhabi and Hong Kong, before landing for the first time in Kuwait next December.
The “Kings League” for the Middle East and North Africa region revealed that the last two teams have joined the tournament, in addition to the opening matches of the first round, to complete the list of ten participating teams before the start of the competitions in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on September 18.
The announcement came during the “Unboxing Show” event, which was held on Saturday with the participation of the ten team leaders, and witnessed the unveiling of the player lists and the opening round matches.
The two Saudi teams, RA2, led by Raed, and Rising Peaks, led by Abdul Rahman Al-Shehri, joined the eight previously announced teams, bringing the Saudi participation to three teams, in addition to DR7, led by Darbah, who returns to participate in the competitions.
The opening round witnesses a repeat of the “Kings Cup” final for the Middle East and North Africa region last year, when “DR7” meets “FWZ”, while a Jordanian confrontation brings together the “3PS” and “Red Zone” teams, in a meeting that puts the Jordanian national team stars Yazan Al-Naimat and Ali Alwan face to face, in their capacity as captains of the two participating teams.
During the event, the team leaders confirmed their readiness to start the new season and compete for the title, and invited their fans to attend the matches and support their teams at the “Cole Arena” in Riyadh.
For his part, Wael Al-Fayez, Executive Director of the Kings League for the Middle East and North Africa, confirmed that the region is one of the fastest growing sports and entertainment markets in the world, considering the first round the beginning of a new phase in the tournament’s journey.
He added that the new season represents the first full season of the competition with the participation of ten teams, including three Saudi teams, noting that the tournament aims to provide an experience that combines sports competition, digital content, and public attendance.
The first round of the Kings League for the Middle East and North Africa region will be held from September 18 to October 30 at the “Cool Arena” on Riyadh Boulevard, and represents the first full league season for the regional competition, after the inaugural edition of the “Kings Cup” in 2025 witnessed the participation of eight teams.
The tournament includes ten teams from five Arab countries, with Saudi Arabia participating with the teams “DR7” led by Darbah, “RA2” led by Raed, and “Rising Peaks” led by Abdul Rahman Al-Shehri.
Qatar was represented by the “APO FC” team led by Abu Falla, Kuwait was represented by the “FWZ” team led by Fawaz, and Egypt was represented by the “Turbo” team led by Tarbon.
Morocco is participating with the “Bakhira FC” team, led by Younes Zaro and Ashraf Sabiri, and “Ultra Shemisha”, led by Elias Al-Maliki, while Jordan is represented by the “3PS” team, led by Absi, and “Red Zone”, led by Maherko.
The Middle East and North Africa competitions fall within the global Kings League system, which includes seven regional leagues for men in Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, the Middle East and North Africa, Mexico and Spain, in addition to the women’s league in Mexico and Spain, and the “Kings World Cup Clubs” tournaments for clubs and “Kings World Cup Nations” tournaments for teams.
Under the patronage of Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, the closing ceremony of the Crown Prince Camel Festival in its eighth edition, organized by the Saudi Camel Federation, was held yesterday (Sunday) at the camel racing field in Taif Governorate.
Prince Saud bin Mishal bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Region, crowned the winners. The final day witnessed the holding of four races, over a distance of 6 kilometers, in which an elite group of 114 mounts participated, amidst great competition among camel owners from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Financial prizes exceeding a total value of more than 50 million riyals were allocated to local and international camel owners who won the various races.
On this occasion, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, Minister of Sports and Chairman of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, extended his sincere thanks and appreciation to the Crown Prince for his sponsorship of the Camel Festival in its eighth edition.
He said in a press statement that the Crown Prince’s sponsorship of the festival is a source of pride and pride for all participants and workers in this great national event, and embodies the status that camel sport enjoys within the Saudi sports system, in light of the generous support and interest it receives that have contributed to achieving qualitative advances in this ancient sport and enhancing its presence at various levels.
He added: “The Crown Prince Camel Festival has continued to consolidate its position as one of the most prominent sports and heritage festivals in the region, through the wide participation it witnessed and distinguished levels of competition, which contributed to highlighting the camel sport and preserving its authentic heritage. In conclusion, I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to the Deputy Emir of the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Region for attending the ceremony and crowning the winners, to whom I congratulate this distinguished achievement.”
The first round was won by the mount “Al-Mayedi” in the general riding category, for its Emirati owner, Hamad Al-Amri, who received a financial prize of one million riyals and a rifle. The second round was won by the mount “Nihab”, in the open riding category, for its owner, the Emirati presidential camel, who received a financial prize of one million riyals and a rifle. Meanwhile, the horse “Intibaab”, in the general tricks category, for its Saudi owner, Iqab Muhammad Al-Dahasi, won the title of the third round, and a financial prize of 1,500,000. A thousand riyals and a sword, while in the fourth round, the horse “Turf” excelled in the open tricks category, owned by Hajn Al Shahaniya from Qatar, and won a financial prize of one million and 500 thousand riyals and a sword.
The winner of the Crown Prince Camel Festival Cup for points was also honored, the owner of the camel, Abdullah Al-Qahtani, as he received the championship cup and an amount of 500,000 riyals.
It is noteworthy that the festival was launched on the third of September, and witnessed the holding of 248 rounds, for the categories “Mafarid, Haqayeq, Laqaya, Jaza’a, Thanaya, Hail, and Zamoul.”
