Women's football has experienced unprecedented growth globally over the past decade, with increasing commercial investment, media coverage, and institutional support. Elite players such as Aitana Bonmatí, Caroline Graham Hansen, Sophia Wilson and Sam Kerr have elevated the profile of the women's game, attracting new audiences and sponsors. Despite this progress, substantial disparities persist between men's and women's football regarding governance structures, regulatory frameworks and commercial operations.

Saudi Arabia has been actively and publicly improving women’s position in sport, recently funding paid maternity leave and fertility treatment through the Women’s Tennis Association [1].  This article discusses how the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has undergone a regulatory transformation of its own to rapidly develop the women's football ecosystem and move towards levelling the playing field with the men’s game.

Governance Structure and Competition Framework

The Saudi Arabian Football Federation's (“SAFF”) development of women's football represents one of the most remarkable regulatory transformations in global sport. Prior to 2017, women were not permitted to attend football matches as spectators [2]; by 2024, the Kingdom has established a comprehensive regulatory framework supporting women's participation at all levels. This transformation has been facilitated through several key regulatory initiatives.

The SAFF Women's Football Department, established in 2019 [3], oversees all aspects of women's football development under a centralised governance model. This structure has enabled coordinated implementation of regulations across multiple levels of competition:

• Saudi Women's Premier League (SWPL): Launched in 2022 as a professional competition with eight teams, the league has expanded to ten teams for the 2024-25 season and operates under professional regulations including standardised contracts and player registration requirements [4].
• First and Second Division Leagues: Established to create a competition pyramid with promotion and relegation, governed by distinct regulatory requirements tailored to developmental objectives.
• SAFF Women's Cup: Structured with modified player eligibility rules to prioritise development of Saudi nationals [5].
• Regional Training Centres: Six centres established since 2021, operating under youth development regulations to identify and nurture talent from ages 6-17 [6].
• Schools League: A competition framework reaching over 77,000 participants governed by age-appropriate regulations [7].

Player Registration and Eligibility Regulations

The SAFF has implemented a regulatory framework regarding player eligibility, particularly concerning international players.

For the 2024-25 season, SWPL clubs may register six non-Saudi players (reduced from seven), with only five permitted on the field simultaneously (increased from four) [8].

The regulations make specific provision for "Saudi-born" players (Al-Mawaleed) (not to be confused with Saudi national players), allowing clubs to register two such players born in 2004 or earlier, with only one permitted on-field at any time (but not considered part of the non-Saudi quota) [9].

Clubs must maintain minimum roster sizes of 25 players and sign at least 15 professional contracts with Saudi nationals to ensure development of domestic talent [10].

Special provisions exist for player eligibility in cup competitions, with more restrictive international player quotas to prioritise national player development.

First Division regulations include mandatory registration of a Saudi or Saudi-born goalkeeper to develop specific positional talent [11].

Broadcasting and Commercial Regulations

The SAFF has established comprehensive broadcasting and commercial regulations that have attracted significant investment:

• In October 2023, the SAFF partnered with DAZN, granting international broadcasting rights for a minimum of two league matches per week, creating global visibility [12].
• The Saudi Sports Company holds domestic broadcasting rights for all 56 Premier League matches, establishing consistent media coverage.
• Commercial regulations have facilitated corporate partnerships, including Lay's (PepsiCo) as title sponsor for the SWPL and Rexona [13] as Official Partner of the national team [14].
• The Women's Clubs Development Fund Program has been regulated to provide SAR 60 million ($16 million) in the 2024-25 season, representing a structured increase of SAR 10 million from the previous season [15].

Uniform and Privacy Regulations

Saudi Arabia has developed distinctive regulatory approaches to uniform requirements and media coverage that balance cultural considerations with sporting objectives:

• Uniform regulations accommodate cultural and religious observance while enabling athletic performance, with provisions for long-sleeved jerseys, leggings under shorts, and optional sports hijabs.
• Media access protocols establish stricter guidelines than those in men's football, particularly regarding locker room access and post-match interview procedures.
• Broadcasting regulations include specific provisions for camera positioning to prioritise action footage while respecting players' privacy, representing a culturally sensitive approach to media coverage.

Comparative Analysis: Saudi Arabia's Model in Global Context

Saudi Arabia's regulatory framework offers instructive contrasts with established models in European and North American women's football.

While many established leagues evolved incrementally over decades, Saudi Arabia has implemented a comprehensive regulatory structure in under five years, demonstrating how regulatory frameworks can be deployed to accelerate development.

The SWPL prize money (SAR 2 million/£427,457) substantially exceeds that of established competitions like the Women's Super League in England (£100,000) [16].

The SWPL's approach to international player registration, with specific quotas and on-field limitations, represents a distinctive regulatory balance between importing expertise and developing domestic talent.

Unlike standardised approaches in Western leagues, Saudi regulations explicitly accommodate religious and cultural considerations, potentially offering a model for global expansion of women's football in culturally diverse contexts.

Future Regulatory Developments

With Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 transformation agenda and the country's selection to host the 2034 FIFA Men's World Cup, further regulatory developments in women's football appear imminent:

• The SAFF has announced the establishment of the Saudi Women's Super Cup for the 2024-25 season, indicating continued expansion of the competition structure [17].
• The implementation of the Women's Champions League qualification signals integration with AFC continental competitions [18].
• The development of Youth Academy regulations reflects a strategic focus on long-term talent development [19].
• The continuing professionalisation of the leagues suggests forthcoming regulatory updates regarding player contracts, transfer systems, and commercial rights.

Conclusion

Saudi Arabia's rapid development of women's football through strategic regulatory frameworks demonstrates how political will, financial resources, and systematic implementation can transform sporting landscapes. The Saudi model, characterised by centralised governance, substantial financial investment, and culturally sensitive adaptations, offers potential insights for other developing markets. As broadcasting deals, sponsorships, and participation rates continue to grow, Saudi women's football stands as a distinctive regulatory case study in the global evolution of the women's game.

While questions remain about the sustainability of any accelerated model, the Saudi approach has undeniably expanded participation opportunities for thousands of female athletes and created professional pathways that did not exist five years ago. 

If you require expert guidance on broadcasting rights, player regulations, agent representation, commercial partnerships, or other legal and regulatory matters relating to sport in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates or the wider Gulf region, please contact Melissa Murray (melissa.murray@twobirds.com), Saarah Badr (Saarah.badr@twobirds.com) or Omar Sharief (omar.sharief@twobirds.com). 

Sources

[1] WTA’s Maternity Policy: A Milestone for Female Athletes, Lereesa Easterbrook, Intisar Abdi

[2] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-42668841

[3] https://www.arabnews.com/node/2503666/saudi-football

[4] تحديثات المسابقات النسائية لموسم 24 / 25 - الاتحاد السعودي لكرة القدم

[5] انطلاق النسخة الأولى من كأس الاتحاد السعودي للسيدات - الاتحاد السعودي لكرة القدم

[6] https://www.saff.com.sa/en/news.php?id=2299

[7] https://www.neom.com/en-us/newsroom/pioneering-change-womens-football-in-saudia-arabia

[8] تحديثات المسابقات النسائية لموسم 24 / 25 - الاتحاد السعودي لكرة القدم^[

[9] تحديثات المسابقات النسائية لموسم 24 / 25 - الاتحاد السعودي لكرة القدم

[10] https://www.saff.com.sa/en/news.php?id=2729

[11] https://www.saff.com.sa/en/news.php?id=3092

[12] https://shekicks.net/dazn-to-broadcast-saudi-womens-premier-league/

[13] https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2025/01/28/saudi-arabia-announce-first-womens-football-sponsorship/

[14] https://www.arabnews.com/node/2388996/sport

[15] https://www.neom.com/en-us/newsroom/pioneering-change-womens-football-in-saudia-arabia