While all eyes will be on tennis for the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh this October, padel players are quietly ready to make their own debut. The Saudi Padel Committee is launching the BSF Padel League, a tournament will a total prize pool of SAR 1 million.

The three-year partnership with Banque Saudi Fransi gives the bank exclusive naming rights to the league, and points to growing interest in the sport. At the signing ceremony, Mogren Almogren, President of the Saudi Padel Committee, and Bader Alsalloom, CEO of Banque Saudi Fransi, highlighted how the agreement reflects a shared commitment to developing Saudi Arabia’s sports sector and nurturing homegrown talent.

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Once a niche pastime, padel has quickly become Saudi Arabia’s second most popular sport, particularly among the country’s youth. New courts are popping up across Riyadh, Jeddah and beyond, fuelled by both grassroots enthusiasm and institutional support. With the launch of the BSF Padel League, the sport now has a professional stage in the Kingdom, offering a clear pathway for local players to rise and compete at the highest level.

Padel fever

The rise of padel isn’t unique to Saudi Arabia — it’s a regional phenomenon. Across Asia, there are now over 3,200 courts, and a striking 85 percent are in the Middle East, with Saudi Arabia home to more than 320 clubs, the highest in the continent.

The sport’s appeal lies in its accessibility. Played on a compact court that’s easier to pick up than tennis, padel suits all ages and skill levels, making it ideal for families and casual players while still attracting professional athletes. The doubles format adds to its social buzz, which has made it a favourite in Gulf cities where players often combine matches with café meet-ups and community events.

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Padel

Global icons from Cristiano Ronaldo to Lionel Messi are already fans, while in the region, padel has benefited from strong backing. In the UAE, Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan has regularly championed the sport, while in Saudi Arabia, professional tournaments and grassroots initiatives have turned it from a niche expat activity into a mainstream obsession.

With the Kingdom now hosting major competitions and investing in infrastructure, the next generation of Arab champions may well come from padel courts in Riyadh or Jeddah. And with whispers of Olympic inclusion by 2028, the Middle East could soon see its padel dream reach the global stage.

Sports in the Kingdom

Padel may be booming, but it’s only one part of a much larger story. Saudi Arabia is steadily positioning itself as a global sporting powerhouse. This October, the Kingdom will welcome the Six Kings Slam, one of the world’s most prestigious tennis exhibitions, back to Riyadh. The tournament, which debuted in 2024 with Jannik Sinner defeating Carlos Alcaraz in a thrilling final, is now one of the most lucrative events in tennis, offering appearance fees and prize money that eclipse even the Grand Slams.

Boxing

The Kingdom’s momentum doesn’t stop there. On the boxing front, Riyadh has hosted era-defining fights featuring Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk, and Anthony Joshua, while also launching the upcoming Riyadh Season Boxing World Cup. Meanwhile, WWE has announced that WrestleMania 43 will take place in Riyadh in 2027, the first time the spectacle will be staged outside North America.

Against this backdrop, the BSF Padel League is both a grassroots success story and a piece of a much bigger puzzle.

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