Events Investment Fund

What Events Investment Fund does

Events Investment Fund (EIF) is a Saudi Arabian government-sponsored investment fund established by Royal Decree No. (A/91) in October 2019 and reporting to the National Development Fund (NDF). Its mandate is to conceptualize, structure, and finance world-class events infrastructure across four sectors — sports, entertainment, culture, and tourism — in alignment with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 diversification agenda. EIF's planned portfolio encompasses 35 unique venues by 2030, broken down into 16 theaters, 5 convention centers, 5 indoor arenas, 3 art galleries, 2 shooting ranges, 2 auto race circuits, and 2 horse race circuits, with a committed SAR 8 billion of investment across 20 projects in Riyadh and Jeddah. Expected outcomes include a SAR 20 billion GDP contribution and 15,000 jobs created, supporting a national target of 100 million annual visitors and a tourism share-of-GDP increase from 3% to over 10% by 2030.

EIF does not build a technology platform; its "product" is physical venue infrastructure developed and operated through public-private partnerships with local and international investors, developers, and operators. Its revenue logic is investment returns from co-developed venue assets rather than software or service fees. The fund's go-to-market is institutional and partnership-driven: notable joint ventures include the December 2025 partnership with Legends Global for venue development and management (inaugural project: an Olympic-standard shooting range in Riyadh backed by SAR 491 million), and the July 2023 acquisition of a stake in Tahaluf — a joint venture between Informa PLC and the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones (SAFCSP) — to develop the MICE industry. EIF is governed by a 9-member Board chaired by H.E. Mr. Ahmed Bin Aqeel Al-Khateeb (Minister of Tourism), with Mr. Qusai Al-Fakhri serving as Acting CEO, and operates a lean team (11-50 employees) from its headquarters in Riyadh's King Abdullah Financial District. No operating revenue, pricing model, or AI/ML capabilities are disclosed; the fund's commercial signal is its scale of capital deployment rather than reported top-line income.

Name

Events Investment Fund

Legal name

Events Investment Fund

Website

https://eif.gov.sa

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Events Investment Fund (EIF) is a Saudi government-backed investment fund, established by Royal Decree in 2019 under the National Development Fund, that finances and co-develops 35 planned world-class sports, entertainment, culture, and tourism venues across Saudi Arabia by 2030 through public-private partnerships with global operators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Events Infrastructure Investment

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131)

SIC

Investors, Nec (6799)

akta.pro primary industry

Convention & Exhibition Center Operations (Expo Halls, Trade Show Venues) (MPAGALAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Investment Promotion & FDI Facilitation (BPADAMAD)

Keywords

• Events infrastructure investment
• Public-private partnerships
• Venue development fund
• Sports infrastructure financing
• Tourism asset investment

Headquarters

HQ city

Riyadh

HQ country

Saudi Arabia

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Venue Development and Investment Returns: EIF generates returns through developing and investing in events infrastructure assets including theaters, convention centers, indoor arenas, art galleries, shooting ranges, and motorsports facilities. The fund provides high-return opportunities and facilitates partnerships with the private sector.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

EIF is a government-sponsored investment fund that finances, develops, and partners to build world-class physical event venues across Saudi Arabia's sports, entertainment, culture, and tourism sectors. The fund deploys capital through public-private partnerships with international operators and developers, targeting 35 unique venues (including theaters, convention centers, indoor arenas, art galleries, shooting ranges, motorsports and horse race circuits) by 2030.

Product overview

Events Investment Fund (EIF) is a Saudi Arabian government investment fund established by Royal Decree No. (A/91) in 2019, reporting to the National Development Fund. Rather than a software platform, EIF operates as an infrastructure investment vehicle focused on developing 35 unique world-class venues across four sectors: Sports, Entertainment, Culture, and Tourism. The portfolio includes physical venues such as theaters, convention centers, indoor arenas, art galleries, shooting ranges, auto race circuits, and horse race circuits. EIF's business model involves partnering with local and international private sector investors, developers, and operators to finance, construct, and operate these venues under various public-private partnership structures.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sports Venues Portfolio Infrastructure investment assets in the sports sector including horse race tracks, Olympic-standard shooting ranges, and international motorsports facilities for hosting international sporting events. Targeted at event organizers, sports federations, and private-sector operators partnering with EIF.
• Entertainment Venues Portfolio World-class entertainment infrastructure including indoor arenas and theatres designed to enrich the lives of citizens, residents, and visitors. Targeted at live entertainment promoters, concert operators, and indoor event organizers.
• Culture Venues Portfolio Unique urban and cultural infrastructure including art galleries, theaters, and convention centers promoting Saudi local heritage. Targeted at cultural institutions, exhibition organizers, and performing arts companies.
• Tourism Venues Portfolio World-class tourism assets and outstanding destinations that create memorable experiences for citizens, residents, and visitors with a focus on long-term sustainability. Targeted at tourism operators, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) organizers, and hospitality groups.
• 35 Unique Venues Portfolio A planned portfolio of 35 world-class venues across sports, entertainment, culture and tourism sectors, including 16 theaters, 5 convention centers, 5 indoor arenas, 3 art galleries, 2 shooting ranges, 2 auto race circuits, and 2 horse race circuits, to be developed by 2030. Targeted at institutional investors, international developers, and global venue operators.

Quantifiable outcome

• SAR 20 billion expected GDP contribution from 20 projects in Riyadh and Jeddah
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Legends GlobalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 December 2025Joint venture for venue development across Saudi Arabia. The partnership will manage exhibition, convention, entertainment, and sports venues, with the first venue being an Olympic-standard shooting range in Riyadh. Aims to build world-class venues and promote economic growth under Vision 2030.
• TahalufcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 July 2023Joint venture between Informa and the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones (SAFCSP). EIF acquired a stake in Tahaluf to create new events and bring global brands to Saudi Arabia, supporting the development of the MICE industry and Vision 2030 diversification efforts.
• Informa PLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 July 2023Global events and exhibitions company partnering with EIF and SAFCSP through the Tahaluf joint venture to develop new events and bring international exhibitions to Saudi Arabia.
• Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones (SAFCSP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 July 2023Saudi government entity collaborating with EIF and Informa through the Tahaluf joint venture to advance cybersecurity, programming, and drone events in the Kingdom.
• Sela (possibly)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 July 2023Potentially involved in the partnership to develop a world-class MICE ecosystem and launch sector-specific events in Saudi Arabia.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ASM Global: World's largest venue and event management company (AEG/Ovato merger), operating 350+ arenas, stadiums, and convention centers globally. Closest pure-play peer to EIF's downstream venue operating model once its Saudi venues are commissioned.
• Legends Global: US-based hospitality, venue management, and sports experience company; EIF's JV partner (Dec 2025) for venue development and management across Saudi Arabia. Operates a global portfolio of arenas and stadiums — directly comparable to the operator role EIF's venues require.
• Informa PLC: Global events, exhibitions, and B2B information group; EIF's partner via the Tahaluf JV (July 2023). Directly comparable on the events/MICE content side and on operating exhibitions and conferences inside Saudi venues.
• Qiddiya Investment Company: Saudi government-backed investment company building a 334 sq km entertainment mega-destination near Riyadh. Most direct comparable: similarly state-mandated, similarly capital-intensive, similarly aligned with Vision 2030's entertainment/tourism diversification thesis.

Regional players

• Sela: Leading Saudi live entertainment and events company; reportedly partnered with EIF on MICE ecosystem development. Comparable as a Saudi-native events operator that depends on the same venue infrastructure EIF is creating.
• NEOM Company: Saudi sovereign-backed giga-project building a futuristic regional destination including sport, culture, and tourism assets. Comparable as a fellow Vision 2030 state-mandated, capital-intensive infrastructure investor competing for the same global operators, contractors, and event IP.

Broad incumbents

• Live Nation Entertainment: World's largest live entertainment company (concerts, ticketing via Ticketmaster, sponsorship). Comparable to EIF on the live entertainment demand-generation side that fills the arenas and theaters EIF is building.
• General Entertainment Authority (GEA): Saudi government regulator/commissioner of entertainment activities and events. Comparable to EIF as the principal government counterpart shaping Saudi Arabia's entertainment demand — EIF supplies venues; GEA licenses and curates events that fill them.
• AEG (Anschutz Entertainment Group): Global sports and entertainment operator that develops, owns, and operates venues (Staples Center/Crypto.com Arena, The O2) and live event content. Comparable to EIF as a vertically integrated venue/event platform, though globally diversified versus EIF's Saudi-only footprint.

Emerging players

• MDLBEAST: Riyadh-headquartered music entertainment platform behind Soundstorm festival and related brands. Comparable as a Saudi content/IP creator that drives demand into EIF's planned arenas and outdoor event spaces.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/about
• Xx.com/EIF_KSA

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Events Investment Fund