The iPhone maker’s move follows the strong box office performance of its original movie F1, starring Brad Pitt, which has become Apple’s highest-grossing film to date
Lifestyle Sport
eSports
Game on for $70m Esports World Cup in Saudi Arabia
Esports World Cup begins in Saudi Arabia with prize pot of over $70m
Sporting events
Saudi Arabia drives Middle East push into $600bn global sports market: Report
A new report by Kearney Middle East finds hat Saudi Arabia has allocated $38bn in sports investments to become a global centre for gaming and esports
Al Nassr
Cristiano Ronaldo signs ‘$680m deal’ to stay in Saudi Arabia with Al Nassr: report
Cristiano Ronaldo has signed what has been dubbed the ‘most lucrative contract in sport history’ to stay with Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr
Basketball
Guggenheim Partners’ Mark Walter to buy LA Lakers for world record $10bn
The valuation comfortably beats the previous record for a sports franchise sale of $6.1bn when Boston Celtics got sold in March this year
beIN Media Group
beIN Sport to broadcast Premier League football in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and across MENA until 2028
beIN Media Group renews exclusive Premier League rights across 24 MENA countries through the 2027/28 season
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo named ambassador for $78m prize-pot Esports World Cup 2025 in Saudi Arabia
Cristiano Ronaldo named global ambassador for the Esports World Cup 2025 in Saudi Arabia, featuring over 2,000 pro players, 25 tournaments, and $70m prize pool
FIFA
FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Arab football is on the rise
Arab representation reaches new heights at FIFA Club World Cup 2025
Al-Hilal Club
Bruno Fernandes rejects “big” Al-Hilal offer to stay with Manchester United
The Portuguese star said: “It would have been easy to move there, but I want to keep myself at the highest level, playing in the big competitions”
Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
Rory McIlroy hopes to be 14th time lucky at Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
The world No. 2 and one of the most celebrated golfers in the world confirms his participation in the 2025 edition of the tournament at Yas Links
English Premier League
Khaldoon Al Mubarak eyes new Manchester City signings after disappointing season
Manchester City Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak is confident the Abu Dhabi-backed team will compete for major honours again next season
Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldo hints at Saudi Al Nassr exit with cryptic X post: Reports
Following the match, Ronaldo posted an image of himself wearing his Al Nassr shirt on social media with the caption: “This chapter is over.”
Egypt
Salah says Liverpool fans played a role in him rejecting lucrative Saudi move
The Egyptian star says “negotiations were serious” with Saudi Premier League officials before he rejected a reported deal of $678mn
Emirati
Mohammed Ben Sulayem announces bid for second term as FIA President
Ben Sulayem was proud of what had been achieved under his mandate and saw no reason to do anything differently the second time around
Basketball
“It has to be authentic”: Euroleague’s CMO on expansion without selling out
As Euroleague Basketball lands in Abu Dhabi, CMO Alex Ferrer Kristjansson discusses expansion without dilution, the Dubai team on the horizon, and why authenticity still rules in a hyper-commercial sports world
Emirati
Emirati rally legend Ben Sulayem steers FIA finances to black
The world governing body for motorsports makes $5.3mn surplus in 2024 after years of incurring losses; Operating income for 2024 up 17% to $27.2mn
Abu Dhabi
Fans in for a treat at the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four
The semi-finals and the final will be played at The Galleria Al Maryah Island on Friday and Sunday, but the FanZone promises three full days of fun and prizes