Yemeni Operations Saudi Vision 2030: War Casts Deep Shadow Over Sports, Aviation, Investment

Al Saud’s Vision 2030 at Risk Due to Yemeni Operations: British Newspaper

Shiite News: According to a report by a British newspaper, the ongoing war with Yemen has cast deep shadows over Al Saud’s efforts to make Saudi Arabia a global center of sports, and Yemeni military operations are rapidly affecting the major projects of sports, aviation, and investment under Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030.

According to the report, the Asian Champions League Elite match between Saudi club Al-Nassr and Uzbekistan’s club Neftchi Fergana in Riyadh was delayed due to a security warning issued just 15 minutes before kick-off in view of the threat of Yemeni missile attacks. In addition, the Saudi International Golf Tournament was postponed for an indefinite period, the Urban Cycling World Championship to be held in Riyadh in November was cancelled, the Esports World Cup was postponed, and the schedule of the Six Kings Slam tennis tournament was changed, while the 2029 Asian Winter Games were shifted from Saudi Arabia to Kazakhstan.

The report also raised questions over Saudi plans to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup and said that due to a broad review of expenditures and cuts in the NEOM project, five proposed stadiums including the NEOM Stadium may not be built. According to the report, approximately 6 billion dollars of the Saudi sovereign wealth fund have already been spent on the LIV Golf project, and this project is facing financial difficulties.

On the other hand, due to security concerns, numerous airlines including Emirates, Etihad, flydubai, Qatar Airways, Oman Air, Air France, British Airways, Lufthansa, Cathay Pacific, and Delta have cancelled or suspended their flights to Saudi cities. The suspension of some companies will continue until November and December 2026, Cathay Pacific has extended the suspension of flights to Riyadh until January 31, 2027, while Delta has postponed the launch of its new flight from Atlanta to Riyadh until March 2027.

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Yemeni missile operations have brought the war to the economic and strategic center of Saudi Arabia. The glittering image that Al Saud, with hands stained in the blood of the Yemeni people, wanted to show the world through concerts, song and dance, and sporting spectacles, is proving to be a wall of sand in the face of Yemeni resistance.