Qiddiya Signs Five-Year Agreement with Golf Saudi to Operate National Golf Club Following Public Opening

Golf Saudi takes over management of an 18-hole championship course designed by Sir Nick Faldo amid the Tuwaiq Mountains. The club welcomes professionals and amateurs without membership requirements, with additional facilities planned for 2028.

Qiddiya Investment Company has signed a five-year operations and management agreement with Golf Saudi to operate the National Golf Club at Qiddiya City, following the club's opening to visitors on October 30, 2026. The development introduces a new sports and leisure attraction to the Riyadh region.

The agreement was formally signed on November 5 by Abdullah bin Nasser Al-Dawood, Managing Director of Qiddiya Investment Company, and Noah Ali Reda, CEO of Golf Saudi, following the earlier announcement of the operator's appointment in late October. The financial value of the agreement was not disclosed.

Located approximately 45 kilometres from Riyadh, the National Golf Club features an 18-hole championship golf course designed by legendary golfer Sir Nick Faldo, set against the dramatic natural landscape of the Tuwaiq Mountains.

The course is divided into three six-hole loops, allowing visitors to choose between shorter rounds and the full golfing experience according to their available time and level of expertise. The club welcomes professional golfers, amateurs and beginners without requiring prior membership. It also provides practice facilities and instructional programmes designed to encourage broader participation in the sport.

Under the five-year agreement, Golf Saudi will oversee the operation of the course and its facilities, manage sporting activities, organise events, and develop player training and local talent identification programmes.

Al-Dawood explained that the partnership aims to make golf accessible to players of different skill levels while attracting visitors to Qiddiya.

Reda, meanwhile, emphasised that the club represents a valuable addition to Golf Saudi's growing network of golf facilities across the Kingdom. The club currently provides a facility for welcoming players and visitors, while future development plans include a permanent clubhouse, a dedicated golf academy and a new driving range, targeted for completion in 2028.

The opening of the National Golf Club represents a tangible addition to Riyadh's sports and leisure tourism offerings, particularly as its non-membership model broadens access for visitors. The facility could also enable tour operators to develop packages combining golf with other leisure experiences at Qiddiya, while creating potential opportunities to host tournaments attracting international players and spectators.

However, the actual tourism and economic impact will depend on visitor numbers, bookings and hosted events, indicators that have not yet been disclosed in the official announcements. For now, the confirmed achievement lies in the opening of a new sports facility and the appointment of an operator under a fixed-term agreement, rather than relying solely on future development plans.