Saudi Arabia has put five more clubs up for sale in an effort by Riyadh to attract private investors to develop the country’s football.

On the table are Al Riyadh, Abha, Al Fateh, Al Tai, and Al Shoulla, with the Saudi government inviting investors to submit expressions of interest in acquiring the clubs by July 5th.

Documents must be submitted through the website of the National Center for Privatizations and PPPs (NCP), according to an announcement by the Saudi Ministry of Sports.

These five clubs have completed all regulatory procedures and are ready to leave the public sphere, the ministry said.

The move is part of a broader plan to create investment opportunities in the football sector and strengthen the presence of private capital in the development of the sport in the Gulf country.

The acquisition process should take eight to ten months, starting from the moment an investor expresses interest in a particular club.

More than 80 Interested Parties

So far, the Saudi government has received more than 80 expressions of interest from investors regarding 22 registered clubs.

Riyadh has been transforming the country’s football in recent years. The initiative began in 2023 when the Public Investment Fund (PIF) acquired 75% of Al Hilal, Al Ahli, Al Nassr, and Al Ittihad. A second phase took place in August 2024, with three more teams fully privatized, including Al Kholood, which became the first Saudi club to pass into the hands of a foreign group.

Saudi Arabia has already completed transactions related to 11 clubs, and two others—Al Najma and Al Akhdoud—are close to signing contracts. The privatization of Al Akhdoud was stalled last year after interested investors failed to meet the requirements.