Events Investment Fund forms strategic joint venture with world’s largest venue operator

Business

Events Investment Fund forms strategic joint venture with world’s largest venue operator

The Events Investment Fund (EIF), established by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud under the National Development Fund (NDF), has announced a major strategic joint venture with Legends Global, the world’s largest operator of event and sports venues. The move represents a significant milestone in Saudi Arabia’s mission to position itself as a global hub for world-class events, entertainment and business gatherings.

EIF, which is tasked with building, owning and operating permanent, high-quality event venues across the Kingdom, aims to transform Saudi Arabia’s events landscape by replacing temporary structures with sustainable, next-generation arenas, exhibition centers, cultural venues and entertainment facilities. The partnership aligns closely with Vision 2030’s goals of modernizing infrastructure and expanding the entertainment and tourism sectors.

The announcement was made during the Development Finance Conference MOMENTUM 2025, underscoring EIF’s role as the national leader in advancing long-term, world-class events infrastructure. By forming strategic alliances with specialized developers and international operators, EIF is spearheading the development of permanent venues tailored to the evolving needs of sports, entertainment and cultural industries.

Legends Global brings more than 40 years of experience and manages over 450 venues worldwide. The company operates premier global events spanning the FIFA World Cup, Olympic Games, Super Bowl, G7 and G20 Summits and ICC tournaments. Through the joint venture, EIF aims to set new standards in governance, operations and service excellence to ensure that Saudi Arabia’s venues achieve world-leading benchmarks in safety, visitor experience and commercial performance.

Wahdan Suliman Alkadi, CEO of the Events Investment Fund, described the partnership as a transformative step for the Kingdom’s events sector.
“This joint venture with Legends Global is a defining moment for Saudi Arabia’s events industry,” he said. “By combining EIF’s vision with Legends’ world-class operational expertise, we are building the foundation for a sustainable, globally competitive sector that will elevate venue standards, empower Saudi talent and drive long-term economic growth.”

Dan Levy, CEO of Legends Global, highlighted the significance of the collaboration.
“It’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a strategic sector for a country like Saudi Arabia,” he said. “We are not just building venues; we are creating destinations, activating communities and powering Vision 2030 with iconic spaces that fuel economic diversification, tourism and cultural exchange.”

The partnership will also accelerate knowledge transfer, providing access to international best practices and thousands of training programs in venue management. Each EIF-developed venue will operate as an independent commercial entity, creating new avenues for investment, job creation and sustainable industry growth.