Saudi Arabia is gearing up for a month of international entertainment, world class sports, music and culture which will kick off on November 21st 2019. In anticipation of the exciting Ad Diriyah season, the Saudi General Sports Authority (GSA), hosted a launch event under the patronage of GSA Chairman Prince Abdul Aziz bin Turki Al-Faisal.
In a statement at the event, the Saudi royal talked about what is to be expected in the coming month, “Hearts will beat faster, pulses will race, rivals will battle each other, and thousands will be entertained in the cradle of modern Saudi civilization, Ad Diriyah, where our nation began. Today, a year after organizing Formula E, our ambitions have become bigger, as have our dreams.”
The Formula E, electric car racing championship, will be returning to the kingdom for Ad Diriyah Season, with 2 days of exciting races, on the 22nd and 23rd of November. For the first time, Mercedes and Porsche will also be participating in the races. Another sporting event, Clash on the Dunes, will also be the kingdom’s first ever world heavyweight boxing title match and will commence on the 7th of December, where current world heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr. and Anthony Joshua, British 2012 Olympics gold medalist, will compete. This will be one of Ad Diriyah’s most highly anticipated events.
Another one of many firsts for Saudi Arabia, will be the country’s first ever professional tennis tournament, at which Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland will compete against Italy’s Fabio Fogini, Russia’s Daniil Medvedev, and Belgium’s David Goffin. There are more participants yet to be announced, but the tournament will be taking place from the 12th-14th December.
Equestrian sporting events will also be of the essence at Ad Diriyah Season, as it will host The Ad Diriyah Equestrian Festival, where some of the world’s top equestrians will participate in two weekends of tournaments, on Dec 12-14th and 19-21st. Women will also be partaking in the equestrian races for the first time in the history of Saudi Arabia, and Saudi female equestrian, Sara Baban, spoke of her delight at being able to compete on home ground, “We participate in Europe all the time. This time we’re doing it in our country, on home ground, in international show-jumping.”
Inviting one and all to the month-long festival where attendees can enjoy all of the above and more, including food and retail, cultural events, and concerts featuring international acts, Prince Abdul Aziz bin Turki Al Faisal, talked about why Ad Diriyah Season is set to be monumental, “Where else in the world can you find this epic blend of the past, the present and the future? Last year, we opened the door to international travelers through our sporting visa program. Now the Kingdom has launched general tourist visas, so our arms are open and our welcome has never been warmer. Come witness history in the making.”
