Booming Saudi sports showcased with awards and first expo 

SFA Expo and Community Sports Group Awards took place on Saturday night. (Supplied/SFA)
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Updated 21 May 2023
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Booming Saudi sports showcased with awards and first expo 

  • Community groups honored at three-day SFA Expo in Riyadh 

RIYADH: The Saudi Sports for All Federation on Saturday concluded the first SFA Expo in the presence of Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud.

The President of the Saudi Sports for All Federation was joined by Khalid Abdullah Albaker, CEO of Quality of Life,  Shaima Saleh Al-Husseini, SFA Managing Director, and Kholoud Al Junaibi, Secretary-General of UAE Sports for All Federation.

The exhibition, at Riyadh Front Exhibition & Convention Center, included a range of sessions and workshops delivered by more than 90 sports experts and trainers, with many more from around the world attending with a view to invest in the Saudi market.

Prizes were given in the Community Sports Group Awards to groups advancing the Saudi sports industry and regional sports culture. The categories were: the most active community sports group on the SFA app; most unique event idea; most effective sustainable and community service initiative and most active male or female university group.

Al-Husseini said: “We are very pleased to have hosted the SFA Expo. The exhibition will help to raise the Kingdom’s profile on the global stage as a world-class sports hub. 

“It will shine an even brighter spotlight on the importance of sport and physical activity to the economy and society, encouraging more people and families to lead healthy, active lifestyles.”

The exhibition allowed visitors to interact with leading global and regional brands in the sports and fitness sector, attend panel discussions and workshops, and view and participate in competitions that added more excitement and fun to the event. 

It also provided professionals, athletes, trainers, and fitness enthusiasts worldwide with an appropriate platform to discuss challenges in the sports field.

It was launched to contribute to the growth and development of the Saudi sports industry, bolster local sports infrastructure, and transform regional community sports.

It was supported by leading bodies such as the Ministry of Sport, Ministry of Investment, Saudi Business Center, and Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee.


Sweden’s Ekstrom takes Dakar stage seven win in Saudi Arabia

Updated 11 January 2026
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Sweden’s Ekstrom takes Dakar stage seven win in Saudi Arabia

  • Qatar’s Nasser Al-Attiyah stays top in the car category

WADI AL-DAWASI: Mattias Ekstrom won stage seven of the Dakar Rally on Sunday as the field started the second week in Saudi Arabia with late drama for Toyota’s Henk Lategan while Qatar’s Nasser Al-Attiyah stayed top in the car category.

South African Lategan had looked like taking the stage and overall lead but let both slip through his fingers after the day’s final checkpoint.

Instead, Sweden’s Ekstrom, winner of the prologue in a Ford Raptor, became ‌the first ‌driver in the top car ‌category to take more ‌than one stage this year.

Lategan had led Ekstrom after 417 of 459km from Riyadh to Wadi Al-Dawasir, but finished eight minutes and 35 seconds behind the winner after having to stop for 10 minutes at the 428km mark.

Ekstrom moved up to second overall, four minutes and 47 seconds behind Dacia Sandriders’ five-times Dakar ‌winner Al-Attiyah with Lategan third.

Spaniard Nani ‍Roma was fourth for ‍Ford after being reinstated by stewards late on ‍Saturday’s rest day as winner of stage five and having a one minute and 10 second penalty rescinded.

In the motorcycle category, Australian Daniel Sanders extended his lead over American rival Ricky Brabec to four minutes and 25 seconds with Argentine rider Luciano Benavides a further 15 seconds adrift.

Sanders had been a mere 45 seconds clear after Friday’s sixth stage but Honda’s Brabec finished the 459km stage 10th to the Australian’s fourth.

Argentine Benavides won the stage, his second triumph of the event, in a one-two for the Red Bull KTM factory team with Spaniard Edgar Canet, while Honda’s French challenger Adrien Van Beveren was third.

Monday’s 481km stage eight is the longest of ‌the race with riders and drivers navigating canyons and dunes around Wadi Ad Dawasir.