Saudi Arabia asks for western consultation to host the 2030 World Cup
June 12, 2021, 4:53 am

World cup

The Middle East Eye reported, citing New York Times, that Riyadh hires Boston Consulting Group to work on tournament bid, and asks other Western consultants for help. World Cup

According to MEE, one of the advisers working on the Saudi bid said a number of Western consultants had been asked to help with the project, which is currently being headed by the Boston Consulting Group.

The adviser noted the bid would require "out of the box thinking", including a potential agreement to host the tournament with a European partner country, MEE added.

Any attempt to secure hosting rights for the tournament would ultimately be difficult, considering its Gulf neighbour Qatar is hosting the 2022 tournament.

A Saudi Arabia bid for the tournament would also face strong competition from several European countries, including the UK, where officials have placed their full support behind a proposed 2030 bid.

In October, Spain and Portugal confirmed plans to enter a joint bid while Romania, Greece, Bulgaria and Serbia have also signalled their intent to launch a combined bid.

News of a potential Saudi Arabia bid comes after Fifa approved a request from the Saudi Football Federation to study staging the World Cup and Women's World Cup every two years instead of four, which would give more opportunities for other countries to host.

Riyadh maintains close links with Fifa, and its president, Gianni Infantino, visited the kingdom in January and held talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, where the two reportedly talked about "the role football can play as a uniting factor in the region".

Sports and entertainment events have formed part of the kingdom’s Vision 2030 strategy to diversify the economy and improve its international reputation.

Last year, the kingdom was unsuccessful in an attempt to take over the English football club Newcastle United. This week it failed to win a contract to secure broadcasting rights for the Champions League, losing out to Qatar's beIN network.

Rights groups have repeatedly warned against allowing Riyadh to host major sporting events, accusing the kingdom of "sportswashing" its human rights abuses, including the persecution and jailing of dissidents and activists, as well as the killing of Middle East Eye columnist Jamal Khashoggi. World Cup

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Source: Middle East Eye

Image Source: AFP-Middle East Eye

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.