Politics · Saudi Arabia · 5 hrs ago
Saudi Arabia Restricts Sports Ticket Sales to Approved Platforms
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Sport has issued new rules for sports tickets to protect buyers and make sales clearer.
The rules cover tickets for competitions and other sports events in the country, including resales.
Only event organizers and ministry-approved platforms can sell or resell tickets under the new system.
The ministry plans to launch a service for approving platforms through its Riadi digital platform on November 15, and existing platforms have 90 days from the rules’ issue date to comply.
Sellers must disclose ticket prices, fees and conditions, while hidden charges and misleading pricing are banned.
Rules also target unauthorized resale and bulk buying, including the use of automated programs or multiple accounts to get around purchase limits.
Tickets must be linked to buyers’ identities, and platforms must explain refunds and cancellations, protect customer data and provide round-the-clock customer support.
The changes aim to make ticket sales fairer and more reliable, and platforms must update their systems during the 90-day transition period.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Sports has issued regulations restricting sports ticket sales and resale to event organizers and ministry-accredited platforms.
The regulations aim to protect consumers, curb unauthorized trading and improve oversight of the ticket market.
The ministry plans to launch a platform accreditation service through its Riyadhi Platform on November 15.
Existing ticketing platforms have 90 days from the regulations’ issuance to meet the approved requirements.
The rules also address pricing transparency, buyer identity, purchase limits, data protection and refunds.
- Who
- Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Sports issued the regulations.
- What
- The rules limit ticket sales and resale to event organizers and ministry-accredited platforms. They also set requirements for pricing, security and consumer protections.
- When
- The regulations were issued on Monday, October 26, 2026. Accreditation is planned to launch on November 15, and existing platforms have 90 days to comply.
- Where
- Saudi Arabia.
- Why
- To protect consumers, curb unauthorized practices and strengthen transparency and oversight.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Ministry of Sports issued regulations for sports ticket sales and resale.
The ministry plans to launch platform accreditation through its Riyadhi Platform.
Existing ticketing platforms must comply with the approved technical and regulatory requirements.
- Issuing authority
- Saudi Ministry of Sports
- Permitted sellers
- Event organizers and ministry-accredited platforms
- Accreditation service
- Riyadhi Platform
- Planned launch
- November 15
- Compliance period
- 90 days from issuance
- Purchase safeguards
- Buyer identity links and individual ticket limits