The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) announced on Monday that it will allocate SAR 49.9 million ($13 million) to boost women’s football programs across the Kingdom.
The groundbreaking project aims to reinforce women’s football leagues as well as the wider sport in Saudi Arabia.
In this regard, the SAFF program will secure financial aid for the Saudi Premier League and women’s first-division clubs.
Lamia Bahaian, the newly elected vice-president of SAFF, said: “Today’s announcement is another monumental step for SAFF in our unwavering dedication to developing and sustaining a thriving women’s football presence in the kingdom.”
“We aim to inspire young girls that a career in football is not only feasible for them but promising. Women and girls are central to everything we do in sport, ensuring that we provide equal access to facilities, opportunities, and careers both on and off the pitch,” Bahaian added.
She also highlighted: “A key motivation behind this program has stemmed from witnessing an incredible 30% growth in women’s football clubs and players across Saudi Arabia, not just the major cities, over the past year. The interest potential of women’s football is vast and we want to ensure we are doing everything we can to support and sustain this growth.”
Women’s sports in the kingdom witnessed remarkable progress, with over 190,000 females now actively participating in various disciplines.
Meanwhile, the Premier and first-division leagues feature over 30 clubs and above 600 players representing more than 20 nationalities.
