Islamabad, 21 April 2025: Saudi Arabia is exploring the possibility of bidding for the 2035 Rugby World Cup, despite having minimal presence in the sport at present.
Speaking to media at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah on Sunday, the Kingdom’s sports minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, said the country had shown growing interest in rugby.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal added that a national federation had recently been established to help develop the sport locally.
He acknowledged that while Saudi Arabia is not yet ready to host a tournament of that scale, the next decade could see significant progress in rugby’s development within the country.
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The minister noted that if the sport gains popularity and infrastructure improves, a bid for the 2035 edition might become realistic.
Prince Abdulaziz also indicated that a joint bid with neighbouring Gulf nations could be a strong possibility.
British media reports last month indicated Saudi Arabia may pursue a joint bid with Qatar and the UAE.
Asia Rugby President Qais Al Dhalai, who hails from the UAE, also backed the idea of a joint bid, calling it a potentially groundbreaking moment for the sport.
He pointed out that stadiums and infrastructure in the region are already in place and suggested that such a collaboration could set a new benchmark for rugby tournaments.
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“A multi-host model could be a huge success,” Al Dhalai said, adding that it would offer a fresh format for the global rugby calendar.
Currently, Saudi Arabia does not rank among the top 113 rugby nations, while UAE holds the 49th position and Qatar sits at 87th.
Despite their limited track record in international rugby, the Gulf countries have demonstrated growing ambition in hosting major global sporting events.
Australia is scheduled to host the 2027 Rugby World Cup, followed by the United States in 2031.
