As the 2025 Islamic Solidarity Games take place in Riyadh, a new report by Strategy& Middle East (part of the PwC network) highlights how Arab nations can build on their growing sporting ambitions to create long-term systems for success.
The report, ‘The quest for gold: A pathway to Olympic glory for the Arab world’, sets out a roadmap to strengthen athlete development and transform sport into a driver of economic and social progress.
The findings note that Arab League countries have collectively won 71 medals across the past five Summer Olympic Games, primarily in athletics and combat sports. While the region accounts for about 5.4 per cent of the world’s population, it represents just 1.4 per cent of total Olympic medals, showing the untapped potential to broaden success across more disciplines.
The report argues that sport can be a catalyst for national development, not only through international prestige but also by improving public health, social cohesion, and youth engagement. It cites evidence that investment in sport delivers strong economic returns, pointing to Sport England’s estimate that every £1 spent in community sport generates over £4 in value for the economy and society.
“Sport is a unifying force that strengthens economies and communities,” said Johnny Yaacoub, Partner at Strategy& Middle East. “Building a high-performance ecosystem goes beyond winning medals—it nurtures pride, resilience, and shared identity for societies.”
The report notes that hosting major events can help accelerate athletic performance. On average, Olympic host nations win around 20 more medals than they did four years earlier, often achieving record results.
However, sustained improvement depends on long-term planning and robust governance. France’s creation of its National Sports Agency in 2019, with an annual US$125 million budget for 1,000 Olympic hopefuls, led to 64 medals at the Paris 2024 Games, its best modern-era performance.
Across the Arab world, several initiatives are already strengthening talent pipelines. Saudi Arabia’s Mahd Sports Academy focuses on developing young athletes in Olympic disciplines, Qatar’s Aspire Academy and School Olympic Program engage tens of thousands of students annually, and Egypt’s National Talent and Olympic Champion Project identifies and supports elite athletes in combat sports.
“There is tremendous potential across the region, which has the population, resources, and determination to redefine its place in global sport,” said Vincenzo Musumeci, Principal at Strategy& Middle East. “Sustained commitment and stronger institutional coordination will be key to turning ambition into results.”
The report outlines a three-phase roadmap: grassroots participation, talent development, and high-performance training, designed to create an ecosystem that nurtures athletes from early education through to elite competition.
By embedding sport in schools, supporting young talent, and investing in science and innovation, the report concludes that Arab nations can move from isolated success to consistent global competitiveness.
Follow us on
