N3XT Sports has released its Digital Transformation Regional Market Report 2025 | Gulf, offering groundbreaking insights into the digital and data landscape of sports in the Gulf. The report reveals key trends, such as 84.9% of Saudi Pro League (SPL) online content being consumed via mobile devices, with 56.7% of viewership coming from international audiences.
Among the findings, Saudi Arabia’s football fans exhibit the highest mobile engagement in the Gulf, although only half of SPL clubs collect first-party data through dedicated websites or mobile apps. The English Premier League remains the most popular competition among Gulf region fans, while Olympic sports demonstrate strong online consumption, albeit lacking the necessary infrastructure for data collection.
N3XT Sports COO Hisham Shehabi, OLY, highlighted significant growth opportunities, stating that the region is poised to lead a new digital era, which will amplify fandom, improve accessibility, and boost commercial value by gaining deeper insights into fan behavior. The report emphasizes the potential for Gulf clubs to enhance audience engagement and retention through omnichannel mobile experiences.
Key figures like Abdulaziz Baeshen, CEO of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, and Danny Townsend, CEO of SURJ Sports Investment, underscored the importance of integrating digital transformation into the region’s sports sector to drive innovation and enhance fan experiences. The report also explores the impact of artificial intelligence, stadium development, and digital adoption in the region’s sports market.
The full report can be accessed through N3XT Sports.
